Test your basic knowledge |

Journalism Law

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. Reckless disregard for the truth; knowing falsity






2. Harm done which the law cannot remedy.






3. If you obtain material from a third party illegally - media are still protected and can publish.






4. In an invasion of privacy tort - an action that characterizes a person falsely. Often the person is misrepresented by quoting out of context - the careless use of photos or cutlines - or by using a picture from one story as a picture for another.






5. Institutes procedures to ensure every citizen has the right to access government documents - as well as the right to inspect and receive copies of records from state and local government bodies.






6. The OMA does not allow public bodies to bypass the law by closing meetings or doing round robin phone calls. universities are not exempt from FOIA in cases of public records.






7. Innocent and negligent misstatement in a newspaper are protected under constitutional freedoms of speech and press.






8. Minor errors do not count as actual malice.






9. The media must make sure that permission is acquired in commercial situations.






10. There is liability even if the news organization reports both sides - if the sources are not credible.






11. Prevents ISPs from liability except on copyright.






12. Protects all 'persons' from deprivation of life - liberty or property without due process of law.






13. For presidential searches - MI supreme court ruled universities are 4th arm of government - and must conduct search in public.






14. There is a first amendment right of access to the public to cover and attend trials.






15. (privacy) There are areas around you that are a 'zone of privacy'






16. Michigan is in ____ district court in ____ -____






17. (privacy) Ex. Beyonce has a thing of Ocean Spray orange juice. Ocean Spray uses the photo as a marketing campaign. Beyonce could go after them.


18. First Amendment protects even false statements about the conduct of public officials except when statements are made with knowledge that they are false or in reckless disregard of their truth or falsity. (actual malice)






19. Have to have an open meeting when interviewing candidates for a public position.






20. The declaration of a final judgment based on the evidence presented






21. A person vs. a person (corporation can be a person too






22. If a publication accurately prints something from a false public record document - they cannot be sued for libel.






23. The First Amendment protection for students does not require a public school to print speech when they can justify their decision by stating it is lewd - indecent or offensive - or have legitimate pedagogical concerns.






24. Criminal matters anything less than a year in jail






25. Truth is only a defense in privacy cases when it's in a case of _______






26. An order issued by the court to prevent attorneys and witnesses from discussing the case outside the courtroom - or reporters from publishing information obtained during a court proceeding.






27. Statements of opinion that could be perceived as defamation need to be based on reliable evidence.






28. Under the language of the statute - these media representatives are not subject to an investigative subpoena.






29. Police have to disclose incident report records. Do have to keep submitting FOIAs.






30. School officials can prohibit students from displaying messages that promote illegal drug use.






31. If the information is lawfully obtained - the defendant can't be held in contempt of court.






32. Guarantees freedoms of speech - religion - press and assembly.






33. For the purpose of defamation - a person who does not have regular - continuing access to the media - or on matters of public controversy. These individuals have a lesser burden of proof under most state libel laws.






34. Motions for summary judgment is applicable if the publication is not private facts and is newsworthy.






35. Series of pre trail hearings: court created devices to weed out inadmissible evidence prior to trial. Often determine bargaining of prosecution and defendant to come up with plea bargain. Most cases are ended with plea bargain and don't go to trial.






36. Failure to obey an order made by the court






37. Publication of private matters that violate ordinary decency - 2. Intrusion on physical solitude - 3. False light - 4. Appropriation of another's likeness for commercial profit - 5. Right to publicity






38. Permission given by SCOTUS to allow a case to be appealed






39. Set the standard in MI that negligence is needed to prove libel - as the legislature had not acted.






40. Even though university foundations are privately incorporated - they might be subject to comply with FOIA and OMA if the majority of funding comes from the university.






41. As long as speech was about a public official (figure) could not reasonably be construed to state actual facts about its subject - it is protected by the first amendment.






42. Anything punishable by more than a year in jail






43. Reading of the charges against a person






44. Federal if between two states (although try to get it back to states) - telecommunications - crossing state lines - anything violating state law






45. Michigan statute M.C.L.A. 750.520k violated the First - Fifth - and Fourteenth Amendments






46. If a quote is altered - in order for a publication to be sued the plaintiff must prove the meaning portrayed in altered quote is dramatically different than the actual quote






47. The power of authority of a particular court to hear and adjudicate matters in dispute






48. In an invasion of privacy tort - the right an individual has to profit from their likeness - or to prevent others from gaining value for their own commercial benefit






49. Lowest court handles: Tickets - civil matter - Misdemeanor - Felonies






50. The burden of proof imposed on public officials extends to anyone involved in a matter of public concern - regardless of whether they were famous or unknown.