News writing Final

Which of the following is NOT a type of public figure? a. pervasive b. perventive c. vortex d. involuntary

b. perventive

Which of the following is NOT one of Jakob Nielsen's writing guidelines? A. write short B. Write for readers who scan websites instead of reading thoroughly C. write to the point; avoid "fluffy marketese" D. Use language creatively; make up words to attract attention E. state the most important information in the first two paragraphs

D. use language creatively; make up words to attract attention

It's impossible to have too much description in a story.

False

Narrative writing is simple and doesn't require thoroughness and descriptive detail.

False

Norman Mailer said a lot of adjectives improve a story.

False

Physical descriptions used generously improve a story.

False

Storytelling techniques are limited to feature stories

False

The three basic tools of storytelling are place, person and perspective.

False

The web is not an ideal medium for storytelling.

False

"Narrative writing" is a dramatic account of a fiction or nonfiction story.

True

A good analogy compares a vague concept to something familiar to readers.

True

Good writers are good readers.

True

In narrative writing, dialogue enhances the storytelling.

True

Jack Hart says news is action.

True

Narrative writing requires a bond of faith with the reader because attribution is limited.

True

One way to avoid bias is to ask yourself if you would use a similar description for both men and women.

True

William Ruehlmann says writers must concentrate when they observe and then analyze what they observe.

True

You don't need to describe what city commissioners are wearing at a meeting.

True

Which of the following have the courts NOT acknowledged as grounds for an invasion of privacy lawsuit? a. intrusion b. public disclosure of private and embarrassing facts c. false light d. intoxicated admission e. misappropriation of a person's name or image without permission

d. intoxicated admission

Which of the following is NOT one of the guidelines for Web headlines on pages 239? a. write brief headline b. use strong verbs c. put the most important words first d. use articles such as "the," "a," or "an" at the start of a headline e. use question headlines if the subject is interesting enough to entice readers f. make headlines clear by themselves

d. use articles such as "the," "a," or "an" at the start of a headline

Which of the following is/are important to think about in writing about a disaster? a. narrative story telling techniques for sidebars b. statistics c. human interest d. helpful information e. all the above

e. all the above

Which of the following is NOT one of the points to include in your story about a meeting? a. impact on readers b. quotes c. background on the issues d. type of meeting and location e. number of votes pro and con each time a vote is taken

e. number of votes pro and con each time a vote is taken

"Alleged" is a word that should be used frequently.

false

"Board" is a plural noun: "The board discussed the issue at their meeting."

false

"Illegal alien" is an appropriate term to describe undocumented immigrants.

false

A good question to ask is something like, "How do you feel about your son's death?"

false

A press release will not be found in a media kit.

false

A sidebar never stands alone as a story.

false

Active voice is preferable for print stories but not for broadcast.

false

Advance stories about upcoming public hearings are not particularly important.

false

All TV stations use the same method for writing directions.

false

Banaszynski says that people are reluctant to tell their stories.

false

Basic information about a speech, including location and highlights, should be used at the top of your story.

false

Broadcast scripts are written in two columns and in all capital letters.

false

Budget stories are easy to write.

false

Bunching numbers in one paragraph is a good idea.

false

Capitalize titles whenever they are used: "Mayor Joe Jones" and "Sue Smith, Mayor of Podunk."

false

Court procedures are the same for misdemeanors, felonies and civil cases.

false

Digital journalism is different than online journalism.

false

Disability groups appreciate the use of terms such as "physically challenged" and "physically inconvenienced."

false

Don't use the "you" voice.

false

Even factual information must be attributed.

false

Even though you use a visual or visuals, you must repeat the information in the story.

false

Extradition means that a newspaper is producing a special edition, either in print or online.

false

Good reporting is different for each medium.

false

HTML stands for "How to Make Literature."

false

Homicide," "murder" and "manslaughter" all mean the same thing.

false

If a person you're interviewing starts to cry, you should offer the person a handkerchief or tissue and continue asking questions.

false

If you don't name the person against whom an accusation is made, you cannot be sued for libel.

false

If you have an online publication and a stranger posts a message on your website that could be libelous, you are responsible.

false

If you write a negative review of a play, concert or book, you may not be sued.

false

In a budget story, the use of graphics or chart of key numbers would make the story difficult to understand.

false

In covering a disaster, it's not important to ask the basics: who, what, when, where, why and how.

false

In covering an airplane crash, your first consideration should be the financial loss the airline will experience.

false

It is appropriate to refer to "the Muslim world."

false

It is appropriate to use terms such as "gray-haired" when writing about people over age 65.

false

It's more important to get to the scene of a disaster than to check a few facts and take emergency precautions and supplies.

false

It's not important to stay until the end of a meeting if items on the agenda have been covered.

false

It's not professional to repeat contact information both at the top and bottom of a web release.

false

Lists are difficult for mobile media users to scan.

false

Little emphasis has been placed on the need for journalists to be sensitive and to show compassion when dealing with victims of tragedy.

false

Media kits are always printed and cannot be found on the Internet.

false

Minority employment in television news and newspapers has changed dramatically during the last 20 years.

false

Motor vehicle accident stories usually are not hard-news stories.

false

News conferences have nothing in common with speeches.

false

Newspapers and TV news stations cannot withhold the names of suspects in crime stories.

false

No guidelines are available for disclosing the origin of information in VNRs.

false

No stylebook is available that offers helpful information when writing about lesbian and gay persons.

false

Online readers read less of a story on the Web than print readers.

false

Online users read the same way on the web as they do in print publications.

false

Open-meeting laws are the same in all U.S. states.

false

PRSA's website, prsa.org, does not offer career resources and mentors to help you with resume writing.

false

PSAs generally run from 60 to 85 seconds.

false

Police have no right to limit reporters' access to a crime scene.

false

Press releases are quite different from basic news stories.

false

Press releases no longer play an important role in news reporting.

false

Social media has changed the nature of crime reporting. It replaces the need for checking with police and other sources.

false

Statistical stories don't lend themselves to storytelling.

false

Stories about news conferences shouldn't include information about reactions from sources with similar and opposing points of view.

false

Teachers, professors and other employees in a public education system usually are defined as public officials.

false

The "involuntary" type of public figure often fits an individual in a libel suit.

false

The federal government has laws protecting reporters from revealing their sources.

false

The national Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) style guide says that when referring to African-Americans, neither "African" or "black" is acceptable.

false

The only stories to be developed from databases are statistical reporting stories.

false

The term "computer-assisted reporting" refers only to the use of databases.

false

The terms "press release" and "news release" are not interchangeable.

false

The textbook says a writer doesn't need to use social media

false

There are no sensitive ways to cover grief.

false

Truth is no defense in libel suits.

false

Unless the owner of a copyrighted photo, text and other materials has made a written request to have the materials copyrighted, you may use the materials without permission.

false

Using "to be" verbs help to paint a picture of the activity you are reporting.

false

Using the word "handicapped" is not a derogatory term when it is accurate.

false

VOs and VOSOTs are the same as a "package."

false

VOs and VOSOTs usually are 45-60 seconds.

false

Web Editor Eric Adams says you should never gather more information that you need for your TV story.

false

When a video is from a government agency, you don't need to identify the source.

false

When you cover a meeting, it's important to report only what officials say publicly.

false

When you precede words such as "criminal" and "perpetrator" with the word "alleged," you are on safe ground.

false

Write summaries that repeat the headline.

false

Writing for broadcast writing is exactly the same as writing for newspapers

false

You are not violating copyright law by using only a portion of a song or video that you located on the web.

false

You can't use storytelling techniques when writing about speeches.

false

You should put together a plan for writing a story after you have gathered information.

false

You will be unable to get information on the progress of identifying victims from the Medical Examiner.

false

You won't be able to get a copy of a municipal disaster plan.

false

immediacy is important. So, if the web editor hears about a story on the police radio, the story can be run without confirmation.

false

the TV producers do not write stories; that's the reporters' job

false

the process of producing a newscast is simple

false

the technique of developing the story in sections doesn't work in a narrative story

false

watching TV news footage and choosing the sound bites to be used is called "monitoring" the footage

false

"Person of interest" is a term used most often when police have good reason to believe the suspect soon will be charged with the crime.

true

A "consent agenda" is a list of items on the meeting's agenda that the board will approve without discussion.

true

A burglary involves entry into a building with intent to commit any type of crime; robbery involves sealing with violence or a threat against people.

true

A common complaint of people who have disabilities unrelated to their hearing is that everyone treats them as if they were hearing impaired.

true

A news story mentioning somebody's name can ruin their lives or come back to haunt them 25 years later.

true

A reporter's story that includes the video, reporter's narration and sound bites is called a "package."

true

A tool that serves as a quick summary for Web readers who are scanners is the highlights box on top or alongside of the story.

true

A weather story can be a feature about interesting aspects of the weather and the ways it affects people.

true

Accounts from eyewitnesses and survivors make the story real and emotional.

true

Accuracy is paramount for a good journalist.

true

Adjudicate means to make a final determination or judgment by a court.

true

All colleges and universities that have federal student financial aid programs must publish an annual report listing three years of crime statistics.

true

All material on the Internet is copyright as soon as it is created.

true

All states have open-meeting laws requiring officials who have the authority to spend public funds to conduct their business in public.

true

Anchorage TV reporter Jennifer Zilko advises her students to ask "Is there anything else you want to share?"

true

Assessments and property taxes are common in municipal budgets.

true

Assignments Editor Ed Bennett says, "Good writing counts for more than anything else, at least in this newsroom."

true

Attribution should be used first in broadcast stories; either first or last for print and the web.

true

Avoid starting sentences with "There."

true

By 2050 more than half the population in the U.S. will be a mixture of Hispanics, Asians and Blacks, with Hispanics making up nearly 29 percent of the residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

true

Capitalize "city council" and "school board" only when part of a proper name: "the Dallas City Council."

true

Carelessness is the most common cause of lawsuits.

true

Change of venue is a procedure to seek a change of location of the trial.

true

Community newspapers and local television stations rely heavily on press releases about events in their area.

true

Comparisons with things familiar to readers are helpful.

true

Court cases are full or drama.

true

Court cases fall into two categories: criminal and civil cases.

true

Don't lead with a no-news approach: "Someone made a speech." Instead, tell the reader what the speaker said.

true

During a public meeting, if a city council member calls another member a crook, you may print the accusation.

true

Elizabeth Albrycht says, "The P.R. person rarely gets thanked when things go well and is the first to be blamed when things go badly."

true

Email is a good way to reach people and get limited information.

true

Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases involving matters related to the U.S. Constitution (such as civil rights), federal tax and antitrust matters and any other federal laws.

true

Hartford Courant reporter Bill Leukhardt said, "Kindness is what really resonates with people."

true

Headlines, summary blurbs and briefs are called "microcontent," but they are the biggest factor in determining whether someone will click into the story.

true

If a TV station doesn't indicate the source of a VNR, the audience can be misled because the video will sound as though the station produced the video.

true

If the lead doesn't give the main point of the story write a clear summary or use the nut graph as the blurb.

true

If you can express an official's point better in your own words, do so.

true

In broadcast scripts, avoid quotation marks, round off numbers when possible, limit the use of numbers and spell out difficult pronunciations of names and locations.

true

In government the fiscal year often starts on July 1.

true

In most cases, especially in human-interest sidebars, you can use all of the feature techniques of descriptive and narrative writing.

true

In small communities, you have to ask officials for statistical information, and they may be reluctant to give it to you.

true

Instant news reporting with mobile and social media sources creates more need and less time for checking accuracy.

true

It is crucial to verify your sources when you use Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites for reporting.

true

Jacqui Banaszynski says one of the reasons AIDS stories differ from other stories is the social stigma.

true

Knowing what is going to happen at a meeting often is more important to readers than knowing what did happen.

true

Libel is a false and defamatory attack on a person's reputation in written form.

true

Long clauses and phrases before the verb make it hard for the reader to remember what the subject is.

true

Make age a factor but not the focus of a person's accomplishments. Avoid comments such as, "Isn't it amazing this person can accomplish such and such at this age?"

true

Many newspapers and TV news programs are curtailing coverage of local government meetings because the news is sometimes dull.

true

Mark Fagan says "When you cover speeches, meetings and news conferences, your observations are as much a part of the story as the scripted comments from speakers.

true

Media kits are used to promote corporate products.

true

Networking is important for public relations practitioner.

true

On U.S. Department of Education forms, "Parent One" and "Parent Two" may be used when the department is trying to establish a student's legal parents regardless of their marital status or gender.

true

Online press releases must be shorter than print ones.

true

Online readers tend to scan rather than read an article completely.

true

PRSSA offers career guidance and internship opportunities and a skills inventory.

true

PSAs are messages that TV or radio stations will air without charge, provided that the messages have noncommercial and nonpolitical content.

true

Poynter Institute's 2012 study showed that iPad users enter a screen through a dominant element, usually a photograph.

true

Public officials, including law enforcement officials, can make statements in the course of their official duties without fear of being sued for libel.

true

Radio news writing follows many of the same principles as writing for TV news, but the copy is shorter.

true

Sound bites are the equivalents of quotes in print and web stories.

true

Story forms such as question/answer, timelines, lists and fact boxes help readers remember facts.

true

The Yahoo! Digital style guide says readers take only three seconds to decide whether to continue reading.

true

The basic concepts for breaking news on the Web are short, fast and frequent.

true

The daily police log, also called the "blotter," lists the names of victims and the nature of the crime.

true

The essential concepts for social media messages are short, substantive and scannable.

true

The first thing to do, before you write a crime story, is to check archives to learn whether the person arrested has been previously arrested or convicted.

true

The graphic on page 311 illustrates that until 1970, immigrants from Europe represented more than 50 percent of the total immigrants into the United States. By 2000 that percentage had shrunk, and Latin Americans represented the largest percentage of immigrants.

true

The more complex the information, the simpler and shorter the sentences should be.

true

The principles for writing and reporting the news are the same regardless of the size of a plane that has crashed.

true

The public relations professional today needs to be skilled in multimedia, multitasking and multicultural awareness.

true

The second-day story about a disaster should attempt to explain the cause of the disaster, if it was not clear the first day.

true

The textbook encourages making government relevant to readers by finding people who are affected by the actions of government agencies.

true

The way the media identify minority groups often is considered contentious.

true

Until recently, little attention had been paid to the toll that disaster coverage can take on journalists who have to stifle their own emotions as they report and photograph the trauma of tragedy victims.

true

Use "people with disabilities" rather than "disabled people."

true

Use only quotes and facts that you need. Dump the rest.

true

Use present tense when possible for broadcast; past tense is more common in print and the web.

true

Video versions of press releases are known as VNRs.

true

When a board makes a decision at a meeting, you need to understand what kind of authority that board has.

true

When you are covering the breaking news of a plane crash or earthquake or you are in the middle of a major story, the sources of information are disorganized and unreliable.

true

When you write about a woman, don't include descriptive details about her appearance unless you also would include descriptive details about a man's appearance.

true

With a prominent speaker, you often can get the text of the speech in advance.

true

Women of all cultures outnumber men in using social networking sites.

true

Writing for the Web requires envisioning a story in layers.

true

You may use information from a U.S. government website without permission.

true

You'll minimize trouble by avoiding the use of euphemisms to describe people.

true

stories written in chapter form are called "serial narratives"

true

storytelling on the web can be interactive

true

the producers determine how much time each story can run

true