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. The legal protection given to authors preventing others from copying or selling their work






2. Someone who posts news online without having been trained as a reporter affiliated with any news organization






3. Publishing or broadcasting a false statement that maliciously or carelessly damages someone's reputation






4. A type of news lead that withholds a significant piece of information (usually a person's last name)






5. Stories that are lighter and less urgent than serious breaking news events






6. A flattering story written to provide gratuitous publicity






7. A staffer who works with reporters - editors - photographers and designers to plan and create special treatment for stories






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






9. A lead in which the 'who' is identified by name - usually because the person is recognizable to most readers






10. A short - amusing news story






11. To question or investigate in depth






12. Software used to produced animated graphics






13. Tired cliches that are recycled by lazy reporters






14. The use of quotes to re-create a conversation between two or more people






15. To delay or relocate a story






16. Specialized technical or bureaucratic language that's often confusing or meaningless to ordinary readers






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






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






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






20. An early version of a story






21. A typesetting mistake






22. A feature story on the culture's latest fads - fashions - and ideas






23. A full-size newspaper






24. The area or subject that a reporter is responsible for covering. (topic - institution - location)






25. Where a reporter covers a wide range of stories rather than focusing on a specific beat






26. Not prerecorded; usually refers to stories filed from a news scene






27. The business and craft of producing content for the news media






28. The top news executive in a television newsroom - responsible for news content - budget decision - hiring and firing staff - etc.






29. A non-breaking-news story on people - trends or issues






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






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






32. A story that explains the basics of an issue or event. also refers to an interview in which a source provides information - though not necessarily for publication






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






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






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






36. A device that projects a news script in front of the camera lens for an anchor to read






37. A short news story






38. A part-time correspondent who is not a regular newsroom employee but gets paid by the story






39. An interview printed in question-and-answer form






40. A news story by a reporter that doesn't use actualities






41. When the anchor speaks over video - or when a reporter narrates over video cover






42. Aligning lines of text so they're even along both the right and left margins






43. Material for news sites that's provided by the public rather than news organizations or journalists






44. 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.






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






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






47. A web log; an online journal providing commentary news dispatches and/or links to related Web sites






48. Short for obituary - a story about someone who has died






49. A story clipped from a newspaper






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