Test your basic knowledge |

Media Writing 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 lead that begins a story by placing readers in the middle of the action






2. To delete part of a story






3. A recounting of an entertaining or informative incident within a story






4. Questions intended to steer an interviewee in a particular direction






5. A brief headline or promo for a coming radio or tv news story






6. The right of journalists to print their opinion on the performance of public figures or entertainers






7. Words the introduce some element in a broadcast news story






8. To publish an important or dramatic story for the first time






9. A direct question intended to elicit a yes-or-not answer






10. Passing off someone else's words or ideas as your own






11. A reporter who files stories from outside the newsroom






12. The first sentence or paragraph of a story






13. Records or people providing journalists with information






14. An early version of a story






15. A 'follow-up' story that provides additional details about an event that was previously covered






16. In libel cases - someone who exercises power or influence in governmental affairs






17. Associated Press - a worldwide news-gathering cooperative






18. A compilation of newsroom rules for punctuation - capitalization - abbreviation - etc. with guidelines on everything from handling profanity to recording sports scores






19. Journalism that focuses tightly on local community activities






20. The middle number or halfway point in a series of numbers arranged by size






21. A section or fragment of a longer quote that you insert into anther sentence






22. Advice or commentary by a columnist writing in a distinctive style on a consistent topic






23. The right of public officials to speak without threat of libel when carrying out their duties






24. The person who reads the news during a newscast and provides transition between stories






25. The text of a story






26. The main page of a web site - providing links to the rest of the site






27. Reckless disregard of the truth; printing something you know to be false






28. An audio version of a news story made available for downloading on a web site






29. To identify the source of a fact - opinion or quote






30. The estimated number of readers who view a publication






31. A typeface






32. A group of reporters and photographers selected to cover a story where access is limited






33. A shot of a reporter at a news scene reporting a story






34. To kill or withhold a story from publication






35. Video images shot at a news scene that are later used to illustrate or cover a sound bit or reporter's track that was recorded separately






36. Information gathered by reporters to help them understand a story's history - meaning - context - etc. also refers to quotes or facts that can be used in a story without disclosing the source's name.






37. Information sent out by a group or individual seeking publicity






38. An agreement by a reporter and a source specifying that information revealed in an interview cannot be printed in any form






39. HyperText Markup Language - the coding used to format and display






40. Words appearing at the start of a first paragraph of a story that identify where the story was filed






41. The first words of a cut or wrap






42. A campaign by a news outlet to bring about reform or encourage government action






43. State and federal laws that guarantee public access to meetings of government bodies






44. A line or paragraph that alerts readers to a related story elsewhere in the paper or on the web site






45. The skills and tactics used to convey information and maintain a positive public image about a person - product - event or organization






46. A newsroom staffer who edits stories and writes headlines






47. A software program that enables you to view Web pages






48. Factual coverage of serious events






49. A section of a story that's written ahead of time for an event that will occur close to deadline






50. A collection of facts and data that's organized by journalists into a searchable format