BSJ Bachelor of Journalism: News Reporting and Writing Skills 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A reporter obtains government documents through a leaked source. What ethical consideration is most pressing before publication?
- Whether the documents are visually compelling
- Whether publishing serves the public interest and whether harm to individuals can be minimized (Correct answer)
- Whether the documents will generate high web traffic
- Whether the leak came from a senior official
Correct answer: Whether publishing serves the public interest and whether harm to individuals can be minimized
Public interest versus potential harm is the central ethical calculation when publishing leaked or sensitive government materials.
Question 2: What does 'on background' mean in a journalist-source agreement?
- The journalist can use the information but must not identify the source by name (Correct answer)
- The information cannot be used in any form
- The source's full name and title must be published
- The information is only usable in opinion pieces
Correct answer: The journalist can use the information but must not identify the source by name
'On background' allows a journalist to use the information while keeping the source's identity confidential.
Question 3: In data journalism, what is the main risk of using raw government statistics without context?
- Statistics from government sources are inherently unreliable
- Numbers without context can mislead readers or support false conclusions (Correct answer)
- Raw data is protected by copyright and cannot be published
- Government statistics are too complex for general audiences
Correct answer: Numbers without context can mislead readers or support false conclusions
Statistics need context — comparison points, methodology, and limitations — to be accurately interpreted by readers.
Question 4: Which technique helps journalists avoid confirmation bias when investigating a story?
- Only interviewing sources who support the working hypothesis
- Actively seeking sources and evidence that challenge or contradict the working thesis (Correct answer)
- Relying primarily on official government statements
- Publishing before all perspectives are gathered to maintain speed
Correct answer: Actively seeking sources and evidence that challenge or contradict the working thesis
Deliberately seeking disconfirming evidence forces journalists to test their assumptions and produce more accurate reporting.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a 'corrections policy' at a news organization?
- To discipline reporters who make errors
- To maintain credibility by transparently acknowledging and fixing published errors (Correct answer)
- To prevent advertisers from complaining about negative coverage
- To track reporter performance for salary reviews
Correct answer: To maintain credibility by transparently acknowledging and fixing published errors
A corrections policy demonstrates accountability and helps readers trust the outlet by showing errors are taken seriously and corrected openly.
Question 6: A journalist is covering a suicide. According to responsible reporting guidelines, what should be avoided?
- Contacting mental health experts for context
- Describing the method in detail and romanticizing the act (Correct answer)
- Including crisis hotline information in the story
- Reporting that the death occurred
Correct answer: Describing the method in detail and romanticizing the act
Research shows that detailed descriptions and romanticization of suicide can trigger copycat behavior, which responsible guidelines specifically warn against.
Question 7: What is 'access journalism' and why is it criticized?
- Journalism that uses public records to expose wrongdoing
- A style where reporters soften coverage to preserve relationships with powerful sources (Correct answer)
- Reporting that grants interview access to underrepresented communities
- Investigative journalism requiring special government clearance
Correct answer: A style where reporters soften coverage to preserve relationships with powerful sources
Access journalism is criticized because reporters may compromise their independence by avoiding tough questions to protect ongoing access to powerful subjects.
BSJ Bachelor of Journalism: News Reporting and Writing Skills 4
A reporter obtains government documents through a leaked source.
What ethical consideration is most pressing before publication?