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. The place the story was filed






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






3. The 'banner' across the front page which identifies the newspaper and the date of publication






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






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






6. Story a reporter has obtained to the exclusion of the competition.






7. A beginning reporter.






8. A story including a number of related events.






9. The individual responsible for the business operations of a newspaper.






10. A feature story that focuses on the current fads directions tendencies and inclinations of society






11. The organization of a news story in which information is arranged in descending order of importance.






12. Short related story added to the end of a longer one






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






14. Similar to libel but spoken instead of published






15. A position that is partial or slanted






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






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






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






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






20. Publicity story or a story that contains unwarranted superlatives.






21. Newsroom library






22. Video images shot specifically to be used over a reporter's words to illustrate the news event or story to cover up audio edits of quotes (to avoid the jerking head effect) or to cover up bad shots (out of focus poorly lighted etc.)






23. The completed page drawing.






24. The department responsible for distribution of the newspaper.






25. Reporting that ignores or treats lightly negative news about friends of a reporter.






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






27. Statutes under which an individual or a group can take action against another group or individual.






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






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






30. Using the work of another person (both written words and intellectual property) and calling that work your own






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






32. 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.






33. 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






34. Copy which accompanies a photograph or graphiccopy which accompanies a photograph or graphic






35. In libel law a reckless disregard for the truth such as when a reporter or an editor knows that a statement is false and prints or airs it anyway.






36. 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.






37. People or records from which a reporter gets information.






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






39. 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






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






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






42. Hidden slant of a press source which usually casts the client in a positive light






43. Credit given to who said what or the source of facts






44. Any written material intended for publication including advertising - What reporters write. A story is a piece of copy.






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






46. A collection filed according to date of newspaper clippings letters notes and other information to remind editors of stories to assign.






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






48. Believability of a writer or publication






49. 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)






50. 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