Test your basic knowledge |

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. Concept - Structure - Reporting - Style (creativity) - Presentation - Was it worth saying? Is there relevance/timeliness?






2. Style






3. Professional language that reporters are prone to use because their sources use it.






4. Reputation is...


5. Popular way of organizing news sotries with the most important info at the top of the sotry - followed by supporting details.






6. Why are accuracy problems magnified at the local level?






7. News values






8. Essential part of credibility - Has to do with someone (not the writer or reporting) re-reporting the factual info - Magazines have more extensive fact checking than newspapers (more time for turnaround) - Fact checkers also called research editors/e






9. Single words or short phrases. Avoid these because whole sentences are more readable.






10. 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






11. Groups 'pull' you to the discussion at a shared site.






12. Timeliness - Proximity - Prominence - Consequence - Rarity - Human Interest






13. Fair comment and criticism






14. Basic format (colors; yellow border on Nat Geo) - Logo and ancillary info (tagline [i.e. GQ Look smart - Live sharp] - price - vol # - issue date) - Illustration (in a generic sense - any kind of art or visual) - Cover lines ("sell lines -" "cover bl






15. 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






16. Libel






17. Organizing a story and related info in small linked pieces.






18. How broadcasters write stories. Leads are shorter in length and they are in the present tense.






19. What are the types of verbals?






20. When should references to someone's heritage - gender - sexuality or disability be included?


21. Emphasize the latest angle and play down the exact time of the original event.






22. Lists (step-by-step; recipes are SJ) - Subheads - Blurbs - Sidebars and boxes - Charts and graphics






23. Basic ideals editors must adhere to






24. Form of communal email in which people interested in a common topic send messages to a specific online address and receive all other messages sent to that addresses.






25. Alliteration and rhyme - Allusions to books - movies and TV - Songs and music - Phrases and puns - Names become fun to play with






26. Titles should promise...






27. Where should attribution go?






28. This may be appropriate to emphasize the details of the action rather than the one who is responsible.






29. Credibility by telling exactly what witnesses see - experts say - etc. - Enliven and dramatize - Reveal personality






30. In essence - anything from the text but the story (Title - deck - head - subhead - pull quotes - bylines - blurbs - captions - etc.) - Used to draw readers into a story - Stats reinforce display copy and visuals






31. What's the best defense against libel?






32. Actual malice


33. When is 'whom/whomever' used?






34. What word should be used in attribution?






35. Speak to communites joined by beliefs and interests - not geography.






36. Fair use






37. Indefinite pronouns






38. 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






39. Letters to/from editor - Letters from readers - Calendars - Q & A - Cartoons - quotes - Shopping guides






40. Hypen






41. What are the standards of a copy editor?






42. Appear outside body copy with the title - deck or subhead






43. What are the 5 key tests of libel?


44. Usually preferable in news writing because it usually requires fewer wrods and makes it clear who is doing what to whom.






45. What protects journalistics & how?






46. Execution (technique - creativity - etc.)






47. When is 'that' used?






48. Opening spread






49. Has everything to do w/ branding a magazine - Sense of focus - readers - personality (MS)






50. Adapting stories from print or broadcast to the web.