BSJ Bachelor of Journalism: News Reporting and Writing Skills 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the significance of the 'public figure' standard established in New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)?
- Public figures can sue for libel under the same standards as private citizens
- Public figures must prove 'actual malice' to win a libel suit against a news organization (Correct answer)
- News organizations are immune from all libel suits involving public figures
- Public figures forfeit all privacy rights once they enter public life
Correct answer: Public figures must prove 'actual malice' to win a libel suit against a news organization
Sullivan established that public figures must prove the defendant acted with actual malice — knowing falsity or reckless disregard for truth — to prevail in libel cases.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'solutions journalism'?
- Journalism funded by corporations to promote positive brand stories
- Reporting that examines credible responses to social problems alongside coverage of those problems (Correct answer)
- Opinion writing that advocates for specific policy changes
- Investigative reporting that exposes government corruption
Correct answer: Reporting that examines credible responses to social problems alongside coverage of those problems
Solutions journalism rigorously covers responses and what works, complementing problem-focused reporting to give a fuller picture.
Question 3: A reporter witnesses a newsworthy event while embedded with a military unit. What is a key ethical concern with embedded journalism?
- Embedded reporters cannot take photographs
- Close proximity to the military may compromise journalistic independence and objectivity (Correct answer)
- Embedded reporting is prohibited under the First Amendment
- Reporters must share all notes with military officials before publishing
Correct answer: Close proximity to the military may compromise journalistic independence and objectivity
Embedding can create rapport that makes it harder to report critically on the unit, raising questions about journalistic independence.
Question 4: In multimedia journalism, what does 'platform-agnostic' storytelling mean?
- Writing only for print without considering digital audiences
- Adapting story presentation to suit the strengths of each platform and audience (Correct answer)
- Refusing to post content on social media
- Using the same script verbatim for both radio and TV broadcasts
Correct answer: Adapting story presentation to suit the strengths of each platform and audience
Platform-agnostic storytelling tailors content — format, length, visuals — to what works best on each specific platform.
Question 5: What is a 'story budget' in a newsroom context?
- The financial cost allocated to cover a major investigation
- A planning document listing stories being prepared for a future edition or broadcast (Correct answer)
- The word count limit assigned to a reporter
- An editor's list of stories that have been rejected
Correct answer: A planning document listing stories being prepared for a future edition or broadcast
A story budget is an editorial planning tool that tracks upcoming stories, their status, and who is responsible for each piece.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of 'false balance' in news reporting?
- Quoting both a Democrat and a Republican on a tax bill
- Presenting a fringe climate-denial viewpoint as equally credible to the scientific consensus (Correct answer)
- Including a dissenting expert opinion in a medical story
- Covering both sides of a local zoning dispute equally
Correct answer: Presenting a fringe climate-denial viewpoint as equally credible to the scientific consensus
False balance occurs when equal weight is given to a fringe view and an overwhelmingly supported scientific or factual consensus, creating a misleading impression of controversy.
Question 7: When writing a news story about a complex legal case, what is the best way to handle legal terminology?
- Use all official legal terms exactly as they appear in court documents
- Translate legal terms into plain language while preserving accuracy (Correct answer)
- Avoid all legal language and focus only on outcomes
- Include a glossary only in print editions, not online
Correct answer: Translate legal terms into plain language while preserving accuracy
Translating legal jargon into plain language makes stories accessible to general audiences without sacrificing factual accuracy.
BSJ Bachelor of Journalism: News Reporting and Writing Skills 5
What is the significance of the 'public figure' standard established in New York Times v.
Sullivan (1964)?