Bachelor of Science in Journalism (BSJ) Comprehensive Assessment — Questions and Answers

Question 1: A reporter quotes a source who later asks to go 'off the record' for comments already given. What is the standard practice?

Delete all quotes from the source entirely
Publish the quotes anonymously to compromise
Grant the request automatically since the source asked politely
Negotiate with the source — retroactive off-the-record requests are not automatically honored (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Negotiate with the source — retroactive off-the-record requests are not automatically honored

Ground rules must be established before an interview; retroactive off-the-record requests are not binding unless the reporter agrees.

Question 2: What is 'computer-assisted reporting' (CAR)?

Using spreadsheets and databases to analyze public records and find stories in data (Correct answer)
Using a computer to auto-publish approved press releases
Recording interviews using computer software
Using AI software to write news stories automatically

Correct answer: Using spreadsheets and databases to analyze public records and find stories in data

Computer-assisted reporting (CAR) uses database analysis, spreadsheets, and statistical tools to find patterns and newsworthy information in large data sets.

Question 3: What ethical issue arises when a PR professional offers journalists gifts, trips, or payments in exchange for coverage?

It compromises journalistic independence and constitutes a bribe, violating ethics codes (Correct answer)
It is acceptable as long as it is disclosed in the article
It is only an issue if the gift exceeds a certain dollar value
It is a standard industry practice known as courtesy marketing

Correct answer: It compromises journalistic independence and constitutes a bribe, violating ethics codes

Offering or accepting gifts or payments in exchange for favorable coverage is considered a bribe that corrupts editorial independence and violates both PR and journalism ethics codes.

Question 4: What elements are typically found in a summary lead?

Instructions on how to read the story
A direct quote
The most important facts of the story (Correct answer)
A list of all the sources quoted in the story

Correct answer: The most important facts of the story

A summary lead, often found at the beginning of a news story, is designed to quickly provide the reader with the most crucial information. It typically answers the 5 W's and 1 H (who, what, when, where, why, and how) to give a concise overview of the main event or topic. This allows readers to grasp the core facts without needing to read the entire article.

Question 5: Is it ethical for a journalist to guarantee the school's football coach that she will portray the team positively in her story in return for receiving information?

FALSE (Correct answer)
TRUE
Maybe
None of these

Correct answer: FALSE

It is unethical for a journalist to promise positive coverage in exchange for information. Such an agreement creates a clear conflict of interest, compromising the journalist's independence, objectivity, and commitment to reporting the truth fairly. Journalists must maintain impartiality and avoid any actions that could bias their reporting.

Question 6: What is the standard file format used by most U.S. news organizations for high-quality photographic submissions?

BMP
GIF
PNG
JPEG (Correct answer)

Correct answer: JPEG

JPEG is the industry-standard format for photojournalism submissions due to its balance of image quality and manageable file size.

Question 7: A reporter uses a quote from an interview conducted three years ago in a new story without re-contacting the source for comment. This practice may raise concerns about:

Misappropriation of the source's likeness
Violation of shield law protections
Accuracy and whether the source's views may have changed (Correct answer)
Copyright infringement of the source's spoken words

Correct answer: Accuracy and whether the source's views may have changed

Using old quotes without verification may misrepresent a source's current position, raising accuracy and fairness concerns.

Question 8: What does 'source protection' mean in investigative journalism?

Using encryption to secure sources of advertising revenue
Backing up digital files to protect against data loss
Keeping a confidential source's identity secret to prevent retaliation (Correct answer)
Protecting a reporter from lawsuits filed by sources

Correct answer: Keeping a confidential source's identity secret to prevent retaliation

Source protection means safeguarding the identity of a confidential source who could face harm, job loss, or legal jeopardy if exposed.

Question 9: Why did some respondents rate the ability to "work with HTML or other computer language" as less important?

It is not necessary for modern journalism.
The skill is irrelevant in the digital age.
The importance of coding and programming varies among individuals. (Correct answer)
Educators do not prioritize teaching computer languages.

Correct answer: The importance of coding and programming varies among individuals.

The importance of coding and programming skills like HTML varies significantly depending on the specific journalistic role and individual career path. While some journalists benefit greatly from these technical skills for data visualization or interactive storytelling, not all roles require deep programming knowledge, leading to differing perceptions of its criticality among respondents.

Question 10: What is 'immersion journalism'?

Journalism that uses virtual reality or augmented reality technology to tell stories
Reporting that takes place in underwater or extreme physical environments
Reporting that focuses exclusively on deeply personal emotional experiences
A reporting method where the journalist participates in or lives within the subject being reported on (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A reporting method where the journalist participates in or lives within the subject being reported on

Immersion journalism involves the reporter embedding themselves in a community or situation over an extended period to gain firsthand, experiential understanding of the subject.

Question 11: What is 'native advertising' in digital journalism?

Classified listings embedded in sports sections
Paid content designed to match the editorial look and feel of a news site (Correct answer)
Advertising sold only to local businesses
Banner ads displayed alongside news articles

Correct answer: Paid content designed to match the editorial look and feel of a news site

Native advertising is paid promotional content formatted to resemble editorial content, which raises transparency and labeling concerns.

Question 12: What is the main focus of profile stories?

Current events
A group’s behavior
An individual (Correct answer)
Celebrity interviews only

Correct answer: An individual

Profile stories are a type of feature journalism that focuses intensely on a single individual. Their main purpose is to create a vivid and in-depth portrait of a person, exploring their life, personality, achievements, and experiences. These stories aim to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the subject beyond surface-level facts.

Question 13: A reporter promises confidentiality to a source, but a judge subpoenas the source's identity. What legal doctrine may protect the journalist?

The First Amendment's absolute press freedom
Attorney-client privilege
The Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination
Shield law (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Shield law

Shield laws, enacted in many states, provide reporters with a privilege to refuse disclosing confidential sources in legal proceedings.

Question 14: Why do investigative journalists typically seek multiple independent sources to corroborate a claim?

To satisfy legal requirements for print publication
To increase the number of named sources in a story
To meet word count requirements for long-form articles
To reduce the risk of publishing false information based on a single biased or mistaken account (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To reduce the risk of publishing false information based on a single biased or mistaken account

Corroboration from multiple independent sources minimizes the risk that a single mistaken, biased, or deceptive source will cause inaccurate reporting.

Question 15: What is the ideal balance between professional and personal content on social media?

50% professional, 50% personal
80% professional, 20% personal (Correct answer)
100% personal
100% professional

Correct answer: 80% professional, 20% personal

While a journalist's social media presence should primarily reflect their professional identity and work, a small amount of personal content can help humanize them and build rapport with their audience. The 80/20 rule suggests a dominant focus on professional updates, news, and insights, balanced with occasional, appropriate personal posts to show personality without compromising journalistic objectivity or professionalism.

Question 16: What is 'data journalism'?

Using data analysis and visualization to uncover and tell news stories (Correct answer)
Storing digital articles in a newsroom database
Using AI tools to fact-check stories
Journalism that reports exclusively on technology companies

Correct answer: Using data analysis and visualization to uncover and tell news stories

Data journalism involves gathering, analyzing, and visualizing large data sets to find and illustrate news stories in compelling ways.

Question 17: What is 'source diversification' in investigative journalism?

Limiting reliance on any one media database
Consulting a variety of sources with different perspectives and access levels to form a complete picture (Correct answer)
Rotating anonymous sources to protect their identities
Using sources from multiple countries

Correct answer: Consulting a variety of sources with different perspectives and access levels to form a complete picture

Source diversification means relying on a range of sources—insiders, external experts, documents, and affected parties—to build a well-rounded and verifiable story.

Question 18: What does "balance" refer to when discussing a news story?

Having several authors write a story.
Getting a lawyer’s opinion before writing an article.
Giving the same amount of space to every paragraph.
Covering all sides of an issue as fairly as possible. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Covering all sides of an issue as fairly as possible.

In journalism, 'balance' refers to the practice of presenting all relevant perspectives and sides of an issue in a fair and impartial manner. This ensures that readers receive a comprehensive understanding of the topic, rather than a biased or one-sided account. It is a crucial aspect of objective reporting.

Question 19: What is 'clickbait' and why is it criticized in journalism?

Sponsored content clearly labeled as advertising
Sensational or misleading headlines designed to maximize clicks over accuracy (Correct answer)
A technique to link related articles within a story
An interactive quiz embedded in a news story

Correct answer: Sensational or misleading headlines designed to maximize clicks over accuracy

Clickbait uses exaggerated or misleading headlines to attract clicks, prioritizing traffic over accuracy and undermining journalistic credibility.

Question 20: In photojournalism, what does 'establishing shot' refer to?

A close-up that focuses on a key detail
A portrait of the main news subject
A wide-angle image that shows the location and context of a story (Correct answer)
The first photo taken to test exposure settings

Correct answer: A wide-angle image that shows the location and context of a story

An establishing shot is typically a wide image that orients the viewer to the setting, providing context for the rest of the story's visual package.

Question 21: What is the 'inverted pyramid' structure and how does it relate to press releases?

A writing format that leads with the most important information followed by supporting details (Correct answer)
A PR organizational chart showing seniority levels
A hierarchy of media outlets prioritized for press release distribution
A diagram showing how media coverage spreads across platforms

Correct answer: A writing format that leads with the most important information followed by supporting details

The inverted pyramid structure places the most newsworthy information first, followed by details and background, making it easy for journalists to quickly grasp the news.

Question 22: What does 'responsive design' mean for a news website?

A site that automatically publishes breaking news alerts
A CMS that alerts editors when corrections are needed
A design that changes based on reader feedback
A web layout that adapts to display correctly on any device screen size (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A web layout that adapts to display correctly on any device screen size

Responsive design ensures a news website displays and functions properly across desktops, tablets, and smartphones by adapting its layout to screen size.

Question 23: A journalist learns that a crime victim's family has requested their loved one not be named in media reports. The journalist's ethical obligation is to:

Defer entirely to law enforcement's guidance on naming victims
Always comply, as victim privacy is legally protected
Always name the victim because the public has a right to complete information
Weigh the news value of naming the victim against the harm to the family and their explicit wishes (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Weigh the news value of naming the victim against the harm to the family and their explicit wishes

While journalists are not legally required to honor such requests, the SPJ Code directs them to minimize harm by considering victims' wishes and the necessity of identification.

Question 24: Why might a photojournalist choose to use a telephoto lens?

To capture wider environmental context
To get a fish-eye distortion effect
To photograph subjects from a distance without intruding on a scene (Correct answer)
To shoot in very low light conditions

Correct answer: To photograph subjects from a distance without intruding on a scene

Telephoto lenses allow photographers to shoot from a distance, minimizing disruption to subjects and capturing candid moments safely.

Question 25: What is a 'paywall' in the context of digital news publishing?

A firewall protecting newsroom computer systems
A system that restricts access to content unless the reader pays or subscribes (Correct answer)
A legal barrier preventing publication of certain stories
A tool for blocking web scrapers from copying articles

Correct answer: A system that restricts access to content unless the reader pays or subscribes

A paywall limits free access to digital content, requiring readers to pay a subscription or per-article fee to read full stories.

Question 26: The ethical concept of 'gatekeeping' in journalism refers to:

The process by which editors and journalists select which stories and information reach the public (Correct answer)
Physically restricting journalist access to events
The use of paywalls to control access to content
Legal restrictions on what news organizations may publish

Correct answer: The process by which editors and journalists select which stories and information reach the public

Gatekeeping describes the editorial decision-making process that determines which events become news and how they are framed for audiences.

Question 27: What does 'A/B testing' mean in the context of digital headline writing?

Editing a headline in two rounds of revisions
Comparing two reporters' writing styles for a single story
Testing headlines for AP Style compliance
Publishing two different headlines to different audience segments to see which performs better (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Publishing two different headlines to different audience segments to see which performs better

A/B testing involves publishing two versions of a headline to separate audience samples to measure which version drives more clicks or engagement.

Question 28: Could you provide an explanation of the term 'active audience'?

Audiences that actively participate in focus groups.
Audiences that prefer to consume news from traditional print sources.
Audiences that actively engage with media content, interpreting it within their personal and social contexts, and may even create and share content. (Correct answer)
Audiences that watch television passively.

Correct answer: Audiences that actively engage with media content, interpreting it within their personal and social contexts, and may even create and share content.

An 'active audience' refers to media consumers who do not passively absorb information but actively engage with content. They interpret media within their personal and social contexts, critically analyze messages, and often participate by creating, sharing, or commenting on content. This concept highlights the audience's role as dynamic participants in the media landscape.

Question 29: Can you explain the concept of a multimedia narrative?

A combination of text and video.
A series of blog posts.
Some combination of text, still photographs, video clips, audio, graphics, and interactivity presented on a website in a nonlinear format in which the information in each medium is complementary, not redundant. (Correct answer)
A collection of photographs and audio clips.

Correct answer: Some combination of text, still photographs, video clips, audio, graphics, and interactivity presented on a website in a nonlinear format in which the information in each medium is complementary, not redundant.

A multimedia narrative integrates various forms of media, such as text, images, video, and audio, to tell a story in a rich and immersive way. The crucial aspect is that each medium contributes unique, complementary information, enhancing the overall narrative rather than simply repeating content. This approach often allows for nonlinear exploration and greater audience engagement, leveraging digital platforms.

Question 30: A journalist is offered an all-expenses-paid trip by a tourism board in exchange for writing positive travel articles. Accepting this offer primarily violates which journalistic principle?

Accountability
Independence (Correct answer)
Transparency
Accuracy

Correct answer: Independence

Accepting gifts or sponsored trips creates a financial obligation that compromises a journalist's ability to report independently and without favor.

Bachelor of Science in Journalism (BSJ) Comprehensive Assessment

The BSJ comprehensive assessment evaluates undergraduate journalism students across core competencies including reporting, media law, digital media, investigative techniques, visual storytelling, and public relations as defined by ACEJMC accreditation standards.

Questions

35 min

Time Limit

70%

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