OSSLT OSSLT - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Writing a News Report 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the key difference between a 'hard news' story and a 'feature story'?
- Hard news uses quotes; features do not
- Hard news covers timely, factual events; features are more in-depth and human-interest focused (Correct answer)
- Hard news is shorter; features must be over 1,000 words
- Hard news requires photos; features do not
Correct answer: Hard news covers timely, factual events; features are more in-depth and human-interest focused
Hard news reports on current, time-sensitive events factually, while feature stories explore topics in greater depth with a human-interest angle.
Question 2: Which factor makes an event 'newsworthy' and suitable for a news report?
- It happened many years ago
- It affects many people or is of significant public interest (Correct answer)
- It involves only one individual
- It was not witnessed by anyone
Correct answer: It affects many people or is of significant public interest
Newsworthiness is determined by factors like impact, timeliness, prominence, proximity, and how many people are affected.
Question 3: What is 'editorializing' in news writing, and why should it be avoided in hard news reports?
- Citing too many sources — it slows down the article
- Inserting the reporter's own opinion into factual reporting — it compromises objectivity (Correct answer)
- Using subheadings — they fragment the article's flow
- Quoting experts — it introduces outside bias
Correct answer: Inserting the reporter's own opinion into factual reporting — it compromises objectivity
Editorializing blurs the line between fact and opinion, which undermines the reader's trust in the accuracy and neutrality of the report.
Question 4: What should the closing paragraph of a news report typically contain?
- The most important fact repeated
- Background context, additional details, or a forward-looking statement (Correct answer)
- The reporter's personal conclusion
- A question for the reader to answer
Correct answer: Background context, additional details, or a forward-looking statement
The closing paragraph usually provides supplementary context, historical background, or notes about future developments related to the story.
Question 5: What is a 'pull quote' in a news article layout?
- A quote removed because it was inaccurate
- A highlighted quote taken from the article body and displayed prominently on the page (Correct answer)
- The final sentence of the article
- A quote from an anonymous source
Correct answer: A highlighted quote taken from the article body and displayed prominently on the page
A pull quote is a visually emphasized excerpt from the article's text, used to draw readers' attention and break up the page layout.
Question 6: Why is factual accuracy especially important in news writing compared to other forms of writing?
- Because news articles are graded by teachers
- Because inaccurate reporting can mislead the public and damage trust in journalism (Correct answer)
- Because news reports are always read aloud
- Because accuracy affects the length of the article
Correct answer: Because inaccurate reporting can mislead the public and damage trust in journalism
News reports inform public understanding and decision-making, so errors can spread misinformation and erode the credibility of both the reporter and the outlet.
OSSLT OSSLT - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Writing a News Report 3
What is the key difference between a 'hard news' story and a 'feature story'?