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






2. Story that requires a great amount of research and hard work to come up with facts that might be hidden buried or obscured by people who have a vested interest in keeping those facts from being published






3. The place the story was filed






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






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






6. The process of preparing page drawings to indicate where stories and pictures are to be placed in the newspaper.






7. Stories clipped from your own or other newspapers.






8. A newspaper story beginning that uses humor or an interesting incident.






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






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






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






12. Similar to libel but spoken instead of published






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






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






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






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






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






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






19. A line identifying the author of a story.






20. 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)






21. Legislation giving journalists the right to protect the identity of sources.






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






23. A story supplying further information about an item that has already been published.






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






25. 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.






26. The department responsible for distribution of the newspaper.






27. A position that is partial or slanted






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






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






30. Opening paragraph of a story in which the 'who' is identified by occupation city office or any means other than by name.






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






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






33. Most prestigious prize for journalists or photographers






34. A page of typewritten copy for newspaper use.






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






36. The term most journalists use for a newspaper article.






37. 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






38. 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.






39. Abbreviation for paragraph






40. 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






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






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






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






44. Information that is not intended for publication






45. Shaded areas of copy in a newspaper






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






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






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






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






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