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. 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






2. A story including a number of related events.






3. Newsroom library






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






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






6. A line identifying the author of a story.






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






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






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






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






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






12. 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






13. Stories clipped from your own or other newspapers.






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






15. The major story on top of page one.






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






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






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






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






20. Continuation of a story from one page to another






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






22. A beginning reporter.






23. The completed page drawing.






24. 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.)






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






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






27. 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






28. A position that is partial or slanted






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






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






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






32. 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.






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






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






35. Determination of the truth of the material the reporter gathers or is given.






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






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






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






39. 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)






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






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






42. 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






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






44. Abbreviation for 'hold for release.' Material that cannot be used until it is released by the source or at a designated time.






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






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






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






48. 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.






49. An indirect quote or summary of the words the news maker said - condensing and clarifying a quotation to convey the meaning more precisely than the way the speaker expressed it.






50. Most prestigious prize for journalists or photographers