Final answer:
The permanent loss of Saigon to the Vietcong did not occur during the Tet Offensive and therefore did not magnify its impact, unlike the other factors mentioned.
Step-by-step explanation:
The impact of the Tet Offensive was magnified by several factors, but not by the permanent loss of Saigon to the Vietcong, as this never happened. The Tet Offensive, a major campaign by the North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces, began on January 30, 1968, during the Vietnamese New Year (Tet) holiday. Although it was a military defeat for the Vietcong, who suffered heavy casualties, the offensive had a profound psychological impact. It contradicted official claims that the United States was nearing victory in Vietnam and demonstrated the Vietcong's ability to launch widespread attacks, including a temporary takeover of the U.S. embassy in Saigon. The offensive also increased the credibility gap between the U.S. government and the public, and intensified media skepticism about the war.
The daily televised news coverage, the momentary guerrilla takeover of the U.S. embassy, and the growing skepticism of the media all served to magnify the impact of the Tet Offensive. However, contrary to one of the options in the question, Saigon did not fall to the Vietcong permanently at this time; that occurred later, in 1975. Thus, the final answer to the quiz question is 'b. the permanent loss of Saigon to the Vietcong,' as all other options did contribute to magnifying the impact of the Tet Offensive except for this one.