Test your basic knowledge |

Journalism Vocab

Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Shaded areas of copy in a newspaper






2. The opening paragraph of a story that reports two or more newsworthy elements.






3. A position that is partial or slanted






4. Stories that are interesting but less important than hard news - focusing on people as well as facts and information and including interviews reviews articles and editorials






5. Determination of the truth of the material the reporter gathers or is given.






6. Headline across or near the top of all or most of a newspaper page. Also called a line ribbon streamer screamer






7. Any overly obscure technical or bureaucratic words that would not be used in everyday language






8. A completed television news story on tape which is edited before a news show goes on air and contains reporter's stand-ups narration over images and an out-cue for the anchor to start speaking at the end of the tape






9. The place the story was filed






10. An ending that finishes a story with a climax surprise or punch line






11. A story that focuses on the human side of news and often appeals to the readers' emotion - a piece valued more for its emotional impact or oddity than for its importance.






12. To cut or mask the unwanted portions usually of a photograph.






13. Information that is not intended for publication






14. An article expressing a newspaper or magazine owner's or editor's position on an issue






15. A reporter's assigned area of responsibility. It may be an institution a geographical area or a subject such as science.






16. Similar to libel but spoken instead of published






17. Damage to a person's reputation caused by a false written statement that brings the person into hatred contempt or ridicule or injures his or her business or occupation.






18. A page of typewritten copy for newspaper use.






19. The major story on top of page one.






20. A direct question designed to draw a specific response; for example 'Will you be a candidate?'






21. A fragment of information that may lead to a story.






22. Correspondent not a regular staff member who is paid by the story or by the number of words written.






23. A line identifying the author of a story.






24. Particular emphasis of a media presentation sometimes called a slant






25. Line of type at the bottom of a column which directs the reader to somewhere else in the paper where the story is completed allowing more space for stories to begin on the front page






26. Abbreviation for paragraph






27. Factual accounts of important events usually appearing first in a newspaper






28. Abbreviation for 'hold for release.' Material that cannot be used until it is released by the source or at a designated time.






29. Services that provide news from around the world to publications that subscribe for a fee (e.g. Associated Press Canadian Press Reuters and United Press International)






30. The machine that prints a newspaper. Also a synonym for a journalist or journalism.






31. A typewritten page of copy following the first page.






32. A research technique in which the reporter joins in the activity he or she wants to write about.






33. To inject the reporter's or the newspaper's opinion into a news story or headline.






34. A secondary story intended to be run with a major story on the same topic.






35. Narrow margin of white space in the center area in a magazine newspaper or book where two pages meet






36. To keep abreast of significant developments on a beat or to report on a specfic event.






37. A worldwide news-gathering cooperative owned by its subscribers.






38. Continuation of a story from one page to another






39. Most prestigious prize for journalists or photographers






40. Lines used to separate one story from another on a newspaper page






41. A story intended to reveal the personality or character of an institution or person.






42. Usually means 'don't quote me.'






43. A writer's development of distinctive characteristics and idiosyncrasies of language use that make his or her writing as easily recognizable as the inflections tone and pronunciation of speech that make a person's vocalized speech pat terns distinc






44. The department responsible for distribution of the newspaper.






45. A page in a newspaper that is opposite the editorial page and contains columns articles letters for readers and other items expressing opinions






46. Stories clipped from your own or other newspapers.






47. The opening paragraph of a story in which the 'who' is reported by name.






48. A person who talks to a reporter on the record for attribution in a news story






49. A story usually short that is humorous or pleasing to the reader.






50. A smaller headline which comes between the headline and the story