In this passage based grammar question, choose the correct relative pronoun to complete the clause _____ have to deal with the very real consequences, referring to journalists and newspapers.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of relative pronouns in English grammar within a passage about journalists and court cases. The sentence refers back to journalists and newspapers and then continues with a relative clause describing their situation. You must select the pronoun that correctly connects the noun phrase journalists and newspapers to the clause have to deal with the very real consequences. Mastering relative pronouns like who, whom, which, and that is important for forming clear and grammatically correct complex sentences in both speech and writing.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The relevant sentence fragment is: It is journalists and newspapers, fighting hundreds of frivolous cases in court, _____ have to deal with the very real consequences.
• The options are whom, which, who, those, and they.
• The noun phrase that the blank refers to is journalists and newspapers, which represents people and institutions.
• We assume the blank introduces a relative clause describing these journalists and newspapers.

Concept / Approach:
Relative pronouns connect a noun to a clause that gives more information about that noun. For people, we usually use who as the subject of the relative clause and whom as the object. The verb have in the clause have to deal with requires a subject before it. Therefore, the pronoun in the blank must act as the subject of the verb have. Among the options, who is the subject form used for people. Other words like which and those do not correctly function as relative pronouns in this specific structure, and they would make the clause ungrammatical or awkward.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the noun phrase being described. It is journalists and newspapers is the focus, and the relative clause should give more information about them. Step 2: Recognise that the blank precedes the verb have, so the missing word must be the subject of the verb have in the relative clause. Step 3: Consider option a, whom. Whom is used as an object, not as the subject of a clause. It cannot correctly precede have in this structure. Step 4: Consider option b, which. Which is generally used for things and animals, not for people in modern English, and would sound wrong when referring directly to journalists and newspapers in this way. Step 5: Consider option c, who. This is the subject relative pronoun used for people and entities viewed as people, and it fits before have as the subject of the relative clause. Step 6: Consider option d, those. Those is a demonstrative pronoun and does not function as a relative pronoun connecting directly to have to deal with in this context. Step 7: Consider option e, they. They is a personal pronoun and cannot be used directly after a noun in this way to introduce a relative clause. Step 8: Therefore, who is the correct pronoun to introduce the clause and act as the subject of have, making option c the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative Check:
To verify, read the full sentence with who inserted: It is journalists and newspapers, fighting hundreds of frivolous cases in court, who have to deal with the very real consequences. This sentence is grammatically correct and sounds natural, with who clearly referring back to journalists and newspapers. If we try whom instead, we get whom have to deal, which is incorrect because whom cannot be the subject of have. Using which or those also breaks the natural flow of the sentence. This confirms that who is the only suitable choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a, whom, is an object form and cannot be used as the subject before the verb have in this context.
Option b, which, is usually used for things or animals and does not correctly refer to journalists and newspapers here in a relative clause.
Option d, those, is a demonstrative pronoun and does not join clauses in the way required for a relative construction.
Option e, they, is a personal pronoun and would start a new sentence or independent clause rather than a relative clause modifying journalists and newspapers.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners confuse who and whom, or they and who, especially in complex sentences. A simple rule is to use who when the pronoun is the subject of the verb and whom when it is the object. In the clause who have to deal, the pronoun performs the action of having to deal, so the subject form who is required. Another common pitfall is to use which after people by accident; while older texts sometimes use which for people, modern standard English strongly prefers who in such cases.

Final Answer:
The correct relative pronoun to complete the sentence is who, so option c is correct.