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






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






3. Similar to libel but spoken instead of published






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






5. 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.






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






7. 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






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






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






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






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






12. Shaded areas of copy in a newspaper






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






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






15. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






22. A position that is partial or slanted






23. 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.)






24. The first sentence or first few sentences of a story


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






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






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






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






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






30. 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






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






32. The place the story was filed






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






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






35. The completed page drawing.






36. Information that is not intended for publication






37. A line identifying the author of a story.






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






39. The department responsible for distribution of the newspaper.






40. Newsroom library






41. Believability of a writer or publication






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






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






44. The main article on the front page of a newspaper or the cover story in a magazine






45. An article in which a writer or columnist gives an opinion on a topic






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






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






48. Stories clipped from your own or other newspapers.






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






50. The major story on top of page one.