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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. An organization that complies news - features and photos and distributes them - for a fee - to subscribing publications






2. An attention-getting lead






3. Someone who writes a blog






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






5. A newspaper that prints a new edition every day






6. A proofreading comment that means 'leave it - ignore any editing notations'






7. A 1966 law requiring federal agencies to make most of their records available to the public upon request






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






9. A phrase inserted into a story that advises copy editors that the information has been checked






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






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






12. The placement of art and text on a page






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






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






15. Gathering information for a news story from a group of online readers






16. An unanswered question in a story; a significant missing fact that's identified when a story is edited






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






18. Transferring a court proceeding to another jurisdiction after the prosecution or defense claims that potential jurors have been prejudiced by local media coverage






19. Tired cliches that are recycled by lazy reporters






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






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






22. A story that uses multiple points of entry to make complex topics more accessible to readers






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






24. A story clipped from a newspaper






25. A small story or chart accompanying a bigger story on the same topic






26. Information sent out by a group of individual seeking publicity






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






28. Sending information to many destinations simultaneously via radio - television or computer network






29. A small photo showing a person's face






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






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






32. Defamation by the spoken word.






33. A word or name that's stylized in a graphic way






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






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






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






37. 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.






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






39. 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






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






41. A way to measure the depth of a story






42. A story explaining an upcoming meeting or event






43. The slanting of information by a source - usually an attempt to make someone look good






44. An exclusive story no other news outlet has






45. Used to highlight items listed in the text






46. Violating the right of an ordinary person to be left alone






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






48. An interview session where someone fields questions from a group of reporters






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






50. News reporting that's sleazy or sensational