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. An explanatory paragraph near the top of the story that summarizes what the story is about






2. Statutes that give journalists the right to protect the identity of sources when questioned during judicial proceedings






3. A story in progress






4. Someone who works for a news organization a reporter - editor - photographer - etc.






5. An entry on a blog






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






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






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






9. A typeface






10. An indirect quote that summarizes - in your own words - what someone else said






11. The name given to a story for newsroom use






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






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






14. Records or people providing journalists with information






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






16. An attention-getting lead






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






18. The exact words spoken by a source






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






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






21. The interconnected community of blogs and bloggers who post comments and link to each other's blogs






22. A restriction placed on a news story or press release that specifies where the information can be made public






23. A full-size newspaper






24. The text of a story






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






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






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






28. Tired cliches that are recycled by lazy reporters






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






30. A particular demographic at which media producers or advertisers aim their messages






31. To design a page on a computer






32. Associated Press - a worldwide news-gathering cooperative






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






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






35. A flattering story written to provide gratuitous publicity






36. The word journalists use to refer to a published article






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






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






39. A situation where a journalist's personal interests affect the coverage of a story






40. To gather news about an event






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






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






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






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






45. The first sentence or paragraph of a story






46. The reporter's name - usually printed at the beginning of a story






47. News reporting that's sleazy or sensational






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






49. The emphasis given to a story or an element within a story






50. The top-ranking executive of a newspaper - who oversees all departments