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. A reporter witnesses a newsworthy event while embedded with a military unit. What is a key ethical concern with embedded journalism? → Close proximity to the military may compromise journalistic independence and objectivity
5. What does 'depth of field' mean in photography? → The range of distance in a photo that appears acceptably sharp
6. In data journalism, what is the main risk of using raw government statistics without context? → Numbers without context can mislead readers or support false conclusions
7. 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
8. When writing a lede for a hard news story, which element is typically LEAST essential? → Historical background of the issue
9. Why might a photojournalist choose to use a telephoto lens? → To photograph subjects from a distance without intruding on a scene
10. 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
11. The 'spiral of silence' theory predicts that people will suppress their opinions when they believe their views are in what position? → Minority
12. Which narrative structure places the most newsworthy information at the beginning of a story? → Inverted pyramid
13. Which U.S. Supreme Court case established that prior restraint of the press is presumptively unconstitutional? → Near v. Minnesota
14. What term refers to the phenomenon where heavy TV viewers perceive the world as more dangerous than it actually is? → Mean world syndrome
15. 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
16. Among the options provided, which sentence would you select as the most well-written? → Riot police use shields to push demonstrates back.
17. Can a source, who was previously a gang member and is concerned about her safety, ethically receive ____ while keeping her identity confidential? → anonymity
18. How can soft news be defined or described? → News that’s entertaining or interesting
19. The practice of verifying a story with at least two independent sources before publication reflects which core journalistic standard? → Corroboration
20. In long-form magazine writing, what is a 'kicker'? → A brief ending that leaves readers with a memorable thought or resonant image
21. In social media journalism, 'verification' of a user-generated video typically includes all of the following EXCEPT: → Obtaining the platform's internal engagement metrics
22. In broadcast journalism, what term describes the spoken words a reporter records to accompany video footage? → Voice-over
23. Which organization publishes widely respected ethics guidelines specifically for photojournalists in the U.S.? → National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)
24. In broadcast newswriting, which of the following should be written in full (spelled out)? → $
25. In multimedia journalism, what does 'platform-agnostic' storytelling mean? → Adapting story presentation to suit the strengths of each platform and audience
26. Which of the following best describes the role of a 'gatekeeper' in traditional mass media theory? → An editor or producer who decides which stories reach the public
27. Why do professionals and teachers have different ideas about how to gather news? → Professionals undervalue the importance of technical skills.
28. What is 'access journalism' and why is it criticized? → A style where reporters soften coverage to preserve relationships with powerful sources
29. Which of the following guidelines should be avoided in broadcast newswriting? → Incomplete sentences are acceptable.
30. In the SAMR model of technology integration developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, which element represents the highest level of transformation? → Redefinition