BSJ Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield BSJ facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. How can a reporter be defined? → A person who interviews sources, writes copy, and is published
2. What type of creative lead does the following sentence exemplify? "Six years ago, Mr. Maxwell's son James fell down a well, and he's still climbing out." → Suspense/Teaser
3. What does 'on background' mean when a source agrees to speak to a journalist? → The information can be used but the source cannot be identified by name
4. What does 'depth of field' mean in photography? → The range of distance in a photo that appears acceptably sharp
5. What is an 'IRE' and what resource does it provide to U.S. investigative journalists? → Investigative Reporters and Editors — provides training, tipsheets, and a story database
6. Why might a photojournalist choose to use a telephoto lens? → To photograph subjects from a distance without intruding on a scene
7. What is a 'podcast' in journalism and why has it grown in popularity? → An audio program distributed digitally via RSS or streaming for on-demand listening
8. What is a 'libel suit' and how can strong investigative reporting help defend against one? → A lawsuit claiming a published statement is false and damaging to someone's reputation
9. Among the options provided, which sentence would you select as the most well-written? → Riot police use shields to push demonstrates back.
10. Can a source, who was previously a gang member and is concerned about her safety, ethically receive ____ while keeping her identity confidential? → anonymity
11. How can soft news be defined or described? → News that’s entertaining or interesting
12. In long-form magazine writing, what is a 'kicker'? → A brief ending that leaves readers with a memorable thought or resonant image
13. Which organization publishes widely respected ethics guidelines specifically for photojournalists in the U.S.? → National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)
14. In broadcast newswriting, which of the following should be written in full (spelled out)? → $
15. Why do professionals and teachers have different ideas about how to gather news? → Professionals undervalue the importance of technical skills.
16. Which of the following guidelines should be avoided in broadcast newswriting? → Incomplete sentences are acceptable.
17. In the SAMR model of technology integration developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, which element represents the highest level of transformation? → Redefinition
18. A 'long-form' article in magazine journalism typically refers to a piece that: → Is at least 2,000 words and provides in-depth exploration of a subject
19. What storytelling element does the term "flow of story events" represent? → Pacing
20. Which element of feature writing involves recreating a scene with vivid sensory detail to immerse readers? → Scene-setting
21. What does 'evergreen content' mean in magazine journalism? → Stories that remain relevant and useful regardless of when they are published
22. What forms the basis for ethics? → a group standards of right and wrong
23. What factors should influence your selection of a source? → The source’s expertise
24. What is a 'wire service' in the context of photojournalism? → A news agency that distributes photos and stories to subscribing outlets
25. What is the term used to describe any choice related to government affairs, structure, or politics? → political decision
26. What are the key features or attributes associated with "writing for the ear"? → All of the above
27. How many teachers thought it was important or very important to "understand the media landscape"? → 83 percent
28. What is a 'deck' in magazine layout and design? → A secondary headline or subheadline appearing below the main headline
29. Which of the following skills was rated as most important for beginning journalists? → Ability to analyze and synthesize large amounts of data
30. What is the primary purpose of a caption in photojournalism? → To provide context and identify key details about the image