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






2. A newsroom staffer who edits stories and writes headlines






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






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






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






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






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






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






9. Activities or writings that incite resistance or hostility toward the government






10. A typeface






11. An early version of a story






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






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






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






15. The section of a sports arena or stadium reserved for reporters covering the event






16. Short for 'paragraph'






17. A format that lets web users subscribe to feeds from blogs or web sites






18. A self-employed writer who sells stories to publications






19. A timely event covered by journalists as it happens






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






21. To lengthen a story by adding unnecessary material - usually so it fits a predetermined length






22. A person who gathers and writes news stories for publication or broadcast






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






24. A recorded comment from a news source






25. A newspaper format that's roughly half the size of a standard page






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






27. Used to highlight items listed in the text






28. Tired cliches that are recycled by lazy reporters






29. Journalism that focuses tightly on local community activities






30. Presenting information using more than one medium - combining text - graphics - audio and video






31. A story that is continuing to unfold - necessitating follow-up stories as events develop






32. Associated Press - a worldwide news-gathering cooperative






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






34. The public's perception of the reliability of a reporter or news outlet






35. To delete a story - or something within a story






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






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






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






39. A graphic device that labels regularly appearing material






40. A radio news story that begins and ends with a reporter's voice 'wrapped' around one or more sound bites






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






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






43. A story reported by only one news outlet






44. To delete part of a story






45. A short news story






46. A short - amusing news story






47. A small headline running below the main headline






48. A series of photos and captions that illustrates a topic or event on a web site






49. The written phrase that identifies the source of a fact - opinion or quote in a story






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