Chapter 5 and Chapter 6

"Hard" and "soft" news are relative terms that describe both the topic and treatment of a story. Which of the following topics could go either way?

"Mayor's Daughter Chosen Top Model for National Bridal Show"

All public meetings have some news tidbit to justify coverage.

False

An outline is useful when writing a news story, but trusting your stream of thought is a more efficient way to write a feature story.

False

Crime stories are always written in inverted pyramid style.

False

Features often use the inverted pyramid structure.

False

It is normally all right for a reporter to discuss cases with jurors while a trial is going on.

False

On a new beat, you should not worry about story ideas for a while, but rely on your editor to do this.

False

Reporters should avoid feature story ideas already used by their competitors

False

Researching a complicated issue too much can lead to a confusing story with too many details.

False

The best reviewers write with a critical voice that speaks to aficionados rather than to ordinary readers.

False

The body of your story should progress in a logical way, so it is not necessary to provide a beginning and ending to your feature.

False

Tomorrow's readers will have longer attention spans and be less distracted. They will be more tolerant of the long, detailed stories where reporters provide a multitude of information

False

Using a playful tone on a serious issue is acceptable in a feature story

False

When covering a fire, be sure to keep your distance from the fire itself.

False

When covering a sports beat, be sure to beef up your stories with plenty of statistics.

False

When covering a sports event, be sure to include play-by-play in your story.

False

When covering crimes, be sure to include allegations of probable wrongdoing.

False

When writing profiles, it is best NOT to contact your subject until you have a detailed draft of your story.

False

You should always wear a coat and tie or a dress to cover a meeting.

False

You think you have a good idea for a feature story. You should complete the story before talking to your editor

False

Your editors will likely object if you use slang, contractions or sentence fragments in a feature story, just as they would for a news story.

False

Enterprise projects are ambitious and unique and may require weeks or even months of research.

True

Feature stories require the same degree of accuracy, fairness and attention to detail as news stories.

True

Felonies are serious crimes, such as murder or rape, and they have more severe punishments than misdemeanors.

True

In editorials, columns and reviews, the writer's opinions are not just allowed, they're encouraged.

True

It is the investigative journalist's job to monitor the conduct and misconduct of government and business, the rich and powerful.

True

Lists, quizzes, diagrams, timelines and quote collections are all good short-form story structures.

True

Most publications develop guidelines dictating how reporters handle obituary information.

True

News stories are written in the past tense, but feature stories are often written in the present tense.

True

Politicians use press releases, news conferences and speeches to tell you what they want you to hear.

True

Writing in-depth profiles requires time and research. Which of the following statements is NOT true of writing profiles?

To avoid bias in your writing, it is best not to interview the subject personally

Sometimes we need to withhold certain identifications from stories, usually pertaining to those involved in a crime, especially suspects. Which of the following are excluded in this policy?

law enforcement personnel

You have just been assigned to a new beat. Which of the following should you NOT do?

look for new ways to cover your beat

When writing a story about an accident, be sure to include:

names of victims, extent of injuries, location, and time.

Which of the following would you NOT do when planning a great feature?

plan your story as close to publishing time as possible

When covering campaigns and elections, which of the following should you NOT do?

prepare your story in advance

Which of the following would you NOT use as part of a short-form feature story structure?

segueing paragraphs of text logically from one item/idea to another

Which of the following would you NOT include in a story about a speech?

your opinion of the speaker's content

When writing an advance for a sporting event or game, which of the following would you NOT need to include?

your prediction about who will win

What would be BAD advice to give someone who is writing a review?

Don't be afraid to show your personal biases. This is opinion writing after all.

Which of the following is NOT a basic rule that a beat reporter should follow?

Don't follow the money.

Which of the following topics needs more focus?

Egypt

Feature stories usually focus on events that are timely and public.

Fals

Asking yourself which the following questions would NOT help you tell if your story idea is a good one?

Is it timely?

Which of the following suggestions can help you write a successful feature story?

Keep it short.

Using details to set the scene and describe people's actions and appearances can be effective in bringing your readers into the action.

True

When covering a meeting, you should start by doing research prior to the meeting.

True

When writing an advance for a sporting event or game, you should include strategies that might affect the outcome.

True

When writing stories on homicides and assaults, be sure to include the circumstances of the incident, including weapons used, other clues, and suspected motive.

True

Which of the following would NOT be good advice for getting the information you need for investigative reporting?

Wait until the police and lawyers have had a chance to talk to your sources or potential sources before you interview those sources.

What would an effective columnist consider BAD advice?

You can base your opinions on reading previously printed stories. Columnists don't have to do their own reporting or interviewing

Which of the following is TRUE when writing reviews of movies, plays, books etc.?

You should criticize the performance, not the performer's appearance, personal life, political views, etc.

Which of the following is NOT one of the three basic elements of investigative reporting?

You should have an agenda that helps set the direction of the investigation.

Enterprise projects are special stories that reach beyond the ordinary. Which of the following is NOT an example of an enterprise story?

a detailed look at how a fire department decides what vehicles to send to an alarm

Which of the following is NOT an important part of package planning your feature?

an assembly-line process

When talking to families about the deceased, you should NOT:

avoid asking family members for information, because they may be too upset.

To write an effective editorial, which of the following should you NOT do?

be a bully when necessary

Short-form alternatives condense data into easy-to-read formats. Which of the following lists includes a plan that is NOT considered a short-form alternative format?

bio box, inverted pyramid, diagram

Which of the following is NOT a common category that a feature would fall into at most publications?

breaking news

Which of the following is NOT something to do to prepare your newsroom for a disaster story?

coordinate with authorities at the scene of the disaster

Which of the following would NOT be an appropriate column topic?

football schedules

Which of the following is NOT a good practice when you are working a beat?

getting cozy with your sources as soon as possible

Opinion writing is NOT appropriate for which of the following?

hard news

You should do which of the following when you are writing a story about a speech?

highlight the speaker's key points

What information is essential in an obituary?

name, age, cause of death, funeral information

As a reporter covering a sports beat, you should:

know the sport, cultivate your sources and ask tough, pointed questions.

You should do which of the following during a speech:

monitor the mood of the crowd

In the 1960s Tom Wolfe dubbed his new feature-writing style "The New Journalism." Which of the following was NOT a literary technique that reporters of the time began borrowing from novelists?

over-dramatizing to make stories more interesting to read

When you arrive at the scene of a disaster, you should be prepared to do all of the following EXCEPT:

question people on the scene before you interview authorities.

You should do which of the following prior to a speech?

research the speaker

You can't cover every court trial, and most just are not newsworthy. Which of the following would probably be no exception to this?

sex crimes

Which of the following activities would be unlikely to result in a reporter being arrested?

taking notes while a trial is in progress

Which of the following is NOT part of your story about a speech?

the format of the speech described in the third paragraph

When writing a story about a fire, which of the following types of information should be excluded?

the private lives of the firemen

Human-interest stories should set the scene, describe the characters and capture the mood.

true