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. 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.






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






3. 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)






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






5. Continuation of a story from one page to another






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






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






8. 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.






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






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






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






12. 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.)






13. 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






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






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






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






17. A page of typewritten copy for newspaper use.






18. Copy which accompanies a photograph or graphiccopy which accompanies a photograph or graphic






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






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






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






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






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






24. Believability of a writer or publication






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






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






27. Abbreviation for paragraph






28. Stories clipped from your own or other newspapers.






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






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






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






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






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






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






35. The department responsible for distribution of the newspaper.






36. A line identifying the author of a story.






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






38. The place the story was filed






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






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






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






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






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






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






45. The major story on top of page one.






46. Most prestigious prize for journalists or photographers






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






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






49. A page in a newspaper that is opposite the editorial page and contains columns articles letters for readers and other items expressing opinions






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