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






2. An article or project that's more creative - original - and ambitious than typical news stories






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






4. To inject the reporter's opinion inappropriately into a news story or headline






5. A roundup of stories by each department of a newsroom






6. Information that may be used in a story but which cannot be attributed in any way - in order to protect the source's identity






7. A story supplying additional details about an event that's been previously covered






8. A collection of clips - press releases - notes and story ideas - arranged by date - to remind editors of upcoming stories to assign






9. The most prestigious award in journalism - established by publisher Joseph Pulitzer at Columbia University






10. An exclusive story no other news outlet has






11. The space running vertically between two columns






12. A feature story that uses interviews and observations to paint a picture of someone newsworthy






13. The story deserving the biggest headline and best display on page one - or at the start of a newscast






14. Factual coverage of serious events






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






16. In radio or tv new stories - sounds recorded to capture the flavor of a news scene






17. Short for 'paragraph'






18. The estimated number of readers who view a publication






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






20. A news story structure that presents the most important facts first; the rest of the information is organized in descending order of importance






21. Defamation by the spoken word.






22. A block of information - including staff names and publication data - often printed on the editorial page






23. The newsroom department responsible for editing stories - writing headlines - and designing pages






24. A sentence or block of type providing descriptive information about a photo






25. The lead to a reporter's warp - read by an anchor






26. A reporter who files stories from outside the newsroom






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






28. A web site where ordinary users can write and edit content collaboratively






29. Used to highlight items listed in the text






30. Use online sites such as facebook and myspace to build relationships with colleagues and sources






31. Records or people providing journalists with information






32. A newsroom staffer who edits stories and writes headlines






33. A full-size newspaper






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






35. Small type used for sports statistics - stock tables - classified ads - etc.






36. A blog written by a reporter or team of reporters that focuses on specialized topic such as local crime - sports or politics






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






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






39. A special label for any regularly appearing section - page - or story






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






41. 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.






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






43. The first words of a cut or wrap






44. Newsroom slang for the crime reporters that summarizes facts about local arrests






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






46. An ending that concludes a story in a clever way






47. A timely event covered by journalists as it happens






48. A news lead that summarizes the most significant of the five W's






49. Two or more stories on the same topic - usually published in a scheduled sequence






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