Question

read the scenario.
the nightly news played a big role in shaping public
opinion on the vietnam war. in the early years of the
war, tv coverage centered on battle maps and
statistics. the human cost of the war was seldom
shown. in the late 1960s, television coverage changed
as reporters began to distrust government statistics.
also, images from the tet offensive cast doubt on the
government’s claim that the united states was winning
the war. in 1968, walter cronkite, the anchor of cbs
evening news, returned from a tour of vietnam. he
declared his belief that the war would end in
negotiation, not victory. public support for the war
began to drop.
how did the media change public opinion on the war?
by distrusting government statistics
by avoiding the human cost of the war
by questioning the government’s claims
by focusing on battle maps and statistics

Explanation:

• Analyze each option:
• Option "by distrusting government statistics": The media (reporters) distrusting stats is their internal action, not how they changed public opinion. Eliminate.
• Option "by avoiding the human cost of the war": Early coverage avoided it, but later coverage changed, and this doesn't explain opinion change. Eliminate.
• Option "by questioning the government’s claims": The Tet Offensive images and Cronkite's declaration questioned the gov's winning claim, leading to public support drop. This matches.
• Option "by focusing on battle maps and statistics": Early coverage did this, but it didn't change opinion; later coverage changed. Eliminate.

Answer:

C. by questioning the government’s claims