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News And Mag Editing Basics

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. Steps in the editing process
Feeds/wire
Given to public officals so they are free to speak their minds freely during official proceedings
1. read for understanding 2. read for organization and focus 3. read for accuracy 4. read for grammar - spelling - punctuation and style 5. read for language and sentence structure 6. proofread
Main person who oversees newsroom personnel (print and online)

2. Never change anything in direct quotes from a printed source - Always attribute direct quotes from a printed source - Place [sic] immediately following an error from a printed source (Not style - purely factual errors; sic means thus - that's how you
Partial or orphan quotes
If they're relevant to the story
Quotes in print
Parrot

3. Write a caption for every photo (except studio shots) - Write sentences - Write in the present tense - active voice (on first sentence) - Place captions under the photos - Don't state the obvious - Write more than one line - Make the last line count
Fairness - ethics - decency
Guidelines for photo captions
Criteria to evaluate stories
Anyone - either ususally singular

4. Basic ideals editors must adhere to
Usenet
Lists the stories - photos and graphics for the day's paper or newscast and helps editors organize coverage of a major event
Used to set apart a word or phrase - usually for emphasis. Should be used sparingly.
Fairness - ethics - decency

5. They are direct (chance for sources to connect w/ readers) - They are nuanced (spokesmen say things particularly)
Most editors don't identify the accusers; the policy is under scrutiny
Why quotes are important
To separate independent clauses and to separate the elements in a list or description. No comma is called before the conjunction in a simple series.
Pluralize then make it possessive

6. When is 'who/whoever' used?
Pull
When the relative pronoun is the subject of the verb.
Early in the story to let the audience know when the even occurred. Positioning is important for clarity and smoothness.
Table of contents (TOC - magazines)

7. Execution (technique - creativity - etc.)
Small portions of copyrighted material may e freely used for informational purposes and commentary - such as use of brief quotations
Before end-quotation marks. If a quotation goes longer than one paragraph - do not put quotation marks at the end of the first paragraph.
Kinds of blurbs
How well does it say it?

8. Editors such purge copy of these trite - overused expressions. Ex: sweet as sugar
Cliche
Basic Journalistic Values
When the pronoun is the object of the verb or phrase
Why quotes are important

9. Why are accuracy problems magnified at the local level?
Conflict - impact - proximity - timeliness - prominence - novelty - audience interest
Coverlines
1. sense of balance/diversity 2. economics of balance 3. sense of place 4. sense of depth
Navigate so users can find info

10. When is 'which' used?
For nonessential (non-restrictive) clauses set off by commas & adds details
Before end-quotation marks. If a quotation goes longer than one paragraph - do not put quotation marks at the end of the first paragraph.
Partial or orphan quotes
Attribution

11. Control Ethnocentrism (your own country and culture is better than others) - Altruistic Democracy: politicians should serve the public good not own interests - Responsible Capitalism: open competition among business will create better world - Small-t
Most editors don't identify the accusers; the policy is under scrutiny
Basic Journalistic Values
Fact checking
A long title description of the speaker is included in attribution

12. How broadcasters write stories. Leads are shorter in length and they are in the present tense.
Metaphor
Conversation model
Given to public officals so they are free to speak their minds freely during official proceedings
1. Info must be false 2. person must be identified 3. info must be published 4. the person's reputation must be damaged 5. news organization must be at fault

13. Audiences respond to these words because they convey a precise relationship to their concepts- words like office rather than facility.
Parrot
Anyone - either ususally singular
First degree words
Bias

14. Single words or short phrases. Avoid these because whole sentences are more readable.
Pull
Partial or orphan quotes
Jargon
Conversation model

15. May be colorful but may be understood by only certain demographic groups.
Niche
Slang
Covers (magazines)
External blurbs (magazines)

16. Publisher/Manager

17. Shouldn't be able to put a dollar bill on a page and not see some type of blurb
For nonessential (non-restrictive) clauses set off by commas & adds details
Link unequal sentence elements
Dollar bill rule(magazines)
Layering

18. Qualified privilege
Cliche
Protects the media in reporting what people say in governmental meetings
Front of book (FOB - magazines)
First degree words

19. Credibility by telling exactly what witnesses see - experts say - etc. - Enliven and dramatize - Reveal personality
Criteria to evaluate stories
Another defense for libel. This applies to editorials - columns and reviews.
A collection of people or things behaving as a single unit. They take singular verbs.
What quotes add to a story

20. Web sites need...
Why quotes are important
Distinct tone and identity
Link equal elements but always come in pairs
Commercial databases

21. Collective noun
Dollar bill rule(magazines)
A collection of people or things behaving as a single unit. They take singular verbs.
Explanatory approach
Public figures must prove this. It's a reckless disregard for the truth.

22. What are the 5 key tests of libel?

23. Libel
Push technology
Repurposing
Listservs
Damage to reputation caused by publisheng or airing false info

24. Loopwhole journalism
News reports that just barely stay inside the boundaries of accuracy but fall short of fair play
Metaphor
Less than half of the U.S. population
Conversation model

25. Whites will soon make up...
Less than half of the U.S. population
Kinds of blurbs
Basic Journalistic Values
Combine taped and live reports to create compelling news reports and may also do substantial writing or rewriting of stories

26. Professional language that reporters are prone to use because their sources use it.
Jargon
Niche
To separate independent clauses and to separate the elements in a list or description. No comma is called before the conjunction in a simple series.
Bias

27. A linked collection of onlin bulletin boards organized into specific topics of interest or 'news groups'.
Second day stories
Usenet
Protects the media in reporting what people say in governmental meetings
Responsible for pulling together text - photos and graphics to create visually appealing pages and web sites

28. Teaser headlines to shock buyers - usually use numbers to suggest value
overlapping media because of the blurring of media by the web and 24/7 cable
Links letters or words together
Coverlines
Covers (magazines)

29. Appear outside body copy with the title - deck or subhead
Basic Journalistic Values
Creative Titles (magazines)
External blurbs (magazines)
What quotes add to a story

30. Story budget

31. Local sidebars that include details like phone numbers - addresses - etc.
First degree words
Covers (magazines)
Info boxes
Navigate so users can find info

32. Cut the copy (quick and to the point) - Be clear - Involve the reader ('How I' approach - 'How you' approach - 'How Jane Doe' approach) - Think useful - Think new or news - Think money
Conversation model
Principles of service journalism
Commercial databases
Guidelines for photo captions

33. When are commas used?
A long title description of the speaker is included in attribution
Table of contents (TOC - magazines)
Slang
To separate independent clauses and to separate the elements in a list or description. No comma is called before the conjunction in a simple series.

34. Concept - Structure - Reporting - Style (creativity) - Presentation - Was it worth saying? Is there relevance/timeliness?
For emphasis. They are for times when something interesting is said in a unique way--not for routine - mundane - or obvious.
A liaison with audience to help a newsroom define its mission and evaluate its performace - as well as helping readers understand the editorial process
Criteria to evaluate stories
For essential/restrictive clauses - which is integral to the meaning of the sentence

35. Provide a sizeable portion of a publication's revenue.
To separate independent clauses and to separate the elements in a list or description. No comma is called before the conjunction in a simple series.
Ads
Pluralize then make it possessive
How well does it say it?

36. Fair comment and criticism
1. read for understanding 2. read for organization and focus 3. read for accuracy 4. read for grammar - spelling - punctuation and style 5. read for language and sentence structure 6. proofread
Kinds of blurbs
Another defense for libel. This applies to editorials - columns and reviews.
When the pronoun is the object of the verb or phrase

37. Dash
Dollar bill rule(magazines)
Table of contents (TOC - magazines)
Used to set apart a word or phrase - usually for emphasis. Should be used sparingly.
Links letters or words together

38. Emphasize the latest angle and play down the exact time of the original event.
A benefit
Second day stories
1. Info must be false 2. person must be identified 3. info must be published 4. the person's reputation must be damaged 5. news organization must be at fault
Active voice

39. Grammar
Set up lead
An example of grassroots journalism in the online community
Body of rules governing how we build sentences to establish meaning
Jargon

40. Web sites must be easy to...
Most editors don't identify the accusers; the policy is under scrutiny
Table of contents (TOC - magazines)
Body of rules governing how we build sentences to establish meaning
Navigate so users can find info

41. Absolute privilege
said
Given to public officals so they are free to speak their minds freely during official proceedings
Feeds/wire
The first amendment. They are not subject to government.

42. Usually preferable in news writing because it usually requires fewer wrods and makes it clear who is doing what to whom.
Monetary compensation. Can be gained when individuals protect their reputation against false claims and invasion of privacy. Sue media in civil courts
If they're relevant to the story
Quotes in print
Active voice

43. Rub within body copy (subheads and pull quotes) - Should appear on the same page or spread as the words or ideas for the blurb appear - Should appear in proper story order - Break up text and seas of gray to coax or tease reader into copy - Should fo
1. use of material that discloses highly personal info about an individual or portarys that person in intimate terms when there is not legitimate public concern. 2. Depiction of someone in a false light. 3. Evidence that journalist has intruded someo
A liaison with audience to help a newsroom define its mission and evaluate its performace - as well as helping readers understand the editorial process
Internal blurbs (magazines)
Quotes in print

44. What are the standards of a copy editor?
If they're relevant to the story
grammar and style
Characteristics of news
Links letters or words together

45. Verb forms that behave like nouns - adjectives or adverbs.
Responsible for pulling together text - photos and graphics to create visually appealing pages and web sites
Verbals
When the relative pronoun is the subject of the verb.
To introduce clauses.

46. Managing editor
Main person who oversees newsroom personnel (print and online)
1. use of material that discloses highly personal info about an individual or portarys that person in intimate terms when there is not legitimate public concern. 2. Depiction of someone in a false light. 3. Evidence that journalist has intruded someo
relative. The dead can't be libeled.
Jargon

47. Subordinating conjunctions
Link unequal sentence elements
1. use of material that discloses highly personal info about an individual or portarys that person in intimate terms when there is not legitimate public concern. 2. Depiction of someone in a false light. 3. Evidence that journalist has intruded someo
Basic Journalistic Values
Conflict - impact - proximity - timeliness - prominence - novelty - audience interest

48. Actual malice

49. Do not change anything inside quote marks (Exception: punctuation and spelling) - Never put quote marks around indirect quotes
Public figures must prove this. It's a reckless disregard for the truth.
Lists the stories - photos and graphics for the day's paper or newscast and helps editors organize coverage of a major event
1. use of material that discloses highly personal info about an individual or portarys that person in intimate terms when there is not legitimate public concern. 2. Depiction of someone in a false light. 3. Evidence that journalist has intruded someo
General rules about direct quotes

50. Timeliness - Proximity - Prominence - Consequence - Rarity - Human Interest
Characteristics of news
Verbals
Link sentence elements of equal grammaical status or rank
Niche