BSJ Bachelor of Journalism: News Reporting and Writing Skills 3

Question 1

In the AP Style guide, how should a person's title be treated when it appears after their name?

Accepted Answer

Lowercase it when it follows the name

Answer

AP Style lowercases formal titles when they appear after a person's name rather than directly before it.

Question 2

What distinguishes a 'hard news' story from a 'feature story'?

Accepted Answer

Hard news covers timely events with immediate public impact; features explore topics in greater depth and narrative style

Answer

Hard news focuses on immediate, significant events, while features offer deeper exploration with narrative techniques.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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

Question 4

What is 'churnalism'?

Accepted Answer

Publishing press releases and wire copy with minimal original reporting or verification

Answer

Churnalism refers to the practice of producing news content that is largely recycled from press releases or wire services without independent verification.

Question 5

Which element is essential in a broadcast news script that differs from print news writing?

Accepted Answer

Conversational language written for the ear, not the eye

Answer

Broadcast writing must be spoken aloud, so it uses conversational language and shorter sentences optimized for listening.

BSJ - Bachelor of Journalism Practice Test

BSJ - Bachelor of Journalism Practice Test

BSJ Bachelor of Journalism: News Reporting and Writing Skills 3