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






2. Shaded areas of copy in a newspaper






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






4. The caption that accompanies a newspaper or magazine photograph.






5. A line identifying the author of a story.






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






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






8. 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.






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






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






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






12. A column of copy and/or graphics which appears on the page of a magazine or newspaper to communicate information about the story or contents of the paper






13. A completed television news story on tape which is edited before a news show goes on air and contains reporter's stand-ups narration over images and an out-cue for the anchor to start speaking at the end of the tape






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






15. 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.)






16. The name of the reporter






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






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






19. The department responsible for distribution of the newspaper.






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






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






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






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






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






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






26. A page of typewritten copy for newspaper use.






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






28. Stories clipped from your own or other newspapers.






29. A position that is partial or slanted






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






31. The person who 'edits' a story by revising and polishing






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






33. Believability of a writer or publication






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






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






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






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






38. A story including a number of related events.






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






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






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






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






43. 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






44. 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






45. The major story on top of page one.






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






47. Particular emphasis of a media presentation sometimes called a slant






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






49. Information that is not intended for publication






50. A worldwide news-gathering cooperative owned by its subscribers.