Test your basic knowledge |

News And Mag Editing Basics

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. Professional language that reporters are prone to use because their sources use it.






2. Avoid using it unless it's relevant.






3. Single words or short phrases. Avoid these because whole sentences are more readable.






4. Brings news to you






5. Organizing a story and related info in small linked pieces.






6. May be colorful but may be understood by only certain demographic groups.






7. Never change anything in direct quotes from a printed source - Always attribute direct quotes from a printed source - Place [sic] immediately following an error from a printed source (Not style - purely factual errors; sic means thus - that's how you






8. News values






9. Internal - External - Both provide entry points to story






10. Indefinite pronouns






11. More historical context and common ground for opposing views.






12. What are the standards of a copy editor?






13. Actual malice


14. Verb forms that behave like nouns - adjectives or adverbs.






15. Used in broadcasting. it frames a story by telling viewers and listeners what to expect.






16. When is 'who/whoever' used?






17. How broadcasters write stories. Leads are shorter in length and they are in the present tense.






18. Managing editor






19. Subordinating conjunctions






20. Why should you use quotes?






21. Absolute privilege






22. When are relative pronouns like who used?






23. Credibility by telling exactly what witnesses see - experts say - etc. - Enliven and dramatize - Reveal personality






24. Provide a sizeable portion of a publication's revenue.






25. Someone says something unique (revolutionary; news worthy) - Someone says something uniquely (colorful language) - Someone important says something important






26. Popular way of organizing news sotries with the most important info at the top of the sotry - followed by supporting details.






27. Basic format (colors; yellow border on Nat Geo) - Logo and ancillary info (tagline [i.e. GQ Look smart - Live sharp] - price - vol # - issue date) - Illustration (in a generic sense - any kind of art or visual) - Cover lines ("sell lines -" "cover bl






28. Has everything to do w/ branding a magazine - Sense of focus - readers - personality (MS)






29. When is 'whom/whomever' used?






30. When should the time element appear?






31. Where do commas and periods go in quotes?






32. Appear outside body copy with the title - deck or subhead






33. Reputation is...


34. Executive producer






35. Loopwhole journalism






36. They are direct (chance for sources to connect w/ readers) - They are nuanced (spokesmen say things particularly)






37. Speak to communites joined by beliefs and interests - not geography.






38. Should complement the picture - Should connect the picture to the story and get readers to read the story






39. What protects journalistics & how?






40. Adapting stories from print or broadcast to the web.






41. Aka refrigerator journalism - How-to; practical info - Advertisers love - Not a separate category of writing - just a different approach - Used in publishing houses like Meredith (grandfather of SJ) and Rodale






42. When is 'which' used?






43. A statement of purpose that identifies the specific editorial focus of the magazine - who the intended readers are and a definition of its personality






44. Editors must be able to idenify this in stories that can result in imnbalance or offensive langugage.






45. Letters to/from editor - Letters from readers - Calendars - Q & A - Cartoons - quotes - Shopping guides






46. Write a caption for every photo (except studio shots) - Write sentences - Write in the present tense - active voice (on first sentence) - Place captions under the photos - Don't state the obvious - Write more than one line - Make the last line count






47. Stories - videos - audio - photos and grpahics provided by the times - ap - etch to subscriber newsrooms.






48. Editors such purge copy of these trite - overused expressions. Ex: sweet as sugar






49. Titles should promise...






50. 'Totally demolished' is an example of this. This diminishes the conciseness and clarity of writing.