Twitter, Facebook and other new media offer ways for the Arab-American news media to reach audiences, but also pose a threat to smaller outlets. In addition to keeping up with the online presence of larger news organizations, Arab-American media are forced to compete with user-generated content that is rapidly available to audiences. The utility of social media in accessing information became clear during the Arab uprisings and events such as Egypt’s parliamentary and presidential elections. However, [Suzanne] Manneh of New America Media points out that the credibility of this information is difficult to verify "depending on where it’s from, to whom it’s attributed, [and] especially when various events are happening very quickly."

Question

Arab-American news outlets find they must compete with this abundance of online content in order to evolve alongside readers who are increasingly turning to the internet for information. Newspapers have made the greatest inroads here so far, with most offering at least some form of digital content, while still maintaining print versions for older generations and those who prefer a physical newspaper. Radio programs, in light of the continuing challenge to find advertising sponsorship, are beginning to shift online. Arab-American television, on the other hand, has yet to even really find a place amid the satellite programming available from Arab countries.

Which statement best evaluates the evidence in the text?

The authors' use of quotations from eyewitnesses support the argument well, but the descriptions from their own experiences do little to support the claim.
The authors effectively use anecdotes to explain the challenges to Arab American news media, but the statistics they incorporate detract from the claim.
The authors do not effectively support their claim because they do not include eyewitness testimony.
The authors effectively use verifiable information and a quotation from an expert to support their claim.

Answer 1

The statement that best evaluates the evidence in the text is:

The authors effectively use verifiable information and a quotation from an expert to support their claim.

This is accurate because the text discusses the challenges faced by Arab-American news media and includes insights from Suzanne Manneh, which provides a credible viewpoint on the difficulties in verifying information in the context of user-generated content and social media during significant events.