BSJ Bachelor of Journalism: Multimedia Storytelling 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the key difference between a 'cutaway' and a 'cutaway shot' in video editing?
- They are identical terms used interchangeably in broadcast journalism
- A cutaway is an editorial concept while a cutaway shot is the specific footage used to cover edits and add context (Correct answer)
- A cutaway always shows the reporter on camera
- A cutaway shot is exclusive to documentary filmmaking
Correct answer: A cutaway is an editorial concept while a cutaway shot is the specific footage used to cover edits and add context
A cutaway shot is the actual footage — such as hands, b-roll, or relevant objects — used to smooth edits or provide visual context during an interview.
Question 2: Which principle guides ethical photo editing in journalism?
- Editors may alter images to improve aesthetic quality
- Photos should not be manipulated to change their factual meaning or mislead viewers (Correct answer)
- Color grading is prohibited in news photography
- Cropping photos is considered a form of fabrication
Correct answer: Photos should not be manipulated to change their factual meaning or mislead viewers
The National Press Photographers Association and major outlets prohibit manipulations that alter the truth of an image, though minor technical adjustments like brightness are acceptable.
Question 3: What does 'SEO' mean in the context of digital multimedia journalism?
- Social Engagement Optimization
- Search Engine Optimization — improving content visibility in search results (Correct answer)
- Secure Editorial Operations
- Sequential Episode Output
Correct answer: Search Engine Optimization — improving content visibility in search results
SEO involves structuring headlines, metadata, and content to rank higher in search engine results, driving organic audience traffic to journalism pieces.
Question 4: In audio journalism, what is the recommended sample rate for professional-quality recording?
- 8 kHz
- 22.05 kHz
- 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz (Correct answer)
- 96 MHz
Correct answer: 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz
44.1 kHz is standard for music and broadcast audio, while 48 kHz is the industry standard for video and film audio production.
Question 5: What is the main ethical concern when journalists use artificial intelligence tools to generate news content?
- AI tools are too expensive for most newsrooms
- AI-generated content may contain fabrications, bias, or lack accountability without human verification (Correct answer)
- AI cannot produce content fast enough for breaking news
- Using AI violates copyright law in all cases
Correct answer: AI-generated content may contain fabrications, bias, or lack accountability without human verification
AI can hallucinate facts, embed bias, and produce unverifiable content, making human editorial oversight essential to maintain journalistic accuracy and accountability.
Question 6: Which storytelling technique involves beginning a narrative at a dramatic or critical moment before flashing back to explain context?
- Chronological structure
- In medias res (Correct answer)
- The inverted pyramid
- The Wall Street Journal formula
Correct answer: In medias res
In medias res drops the audience into a compelling scene mid-action before stepping back to provide background, a technique adapted from literary journalism for multimedia.
Question 7: A multimedia journalist is building an interactive map to accompany an investigative piece. Which file format is most commonly used for geographic data in web applications?
- CSV
- GeoJSON (Correct answer)
- MP4
Correct answer: GeoJSON
GeoJSON is a standard open format for encoding geographic data structures used in interactive web maps built with tools like Leaflet or Mapbox.
BSJ Bachelor of Journalism: Multimedia Storytelling 4
What is the key difference between a 'cutaway' and a 'cutaway shot' in video editing?