OSSLT OSSLT - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Writing a News Report 3

Question 1

What is the key difference between a 'hard news' story and a 'feature story'?

Accepted Answer

Hard news covers timely, factual events; features are more in-depth and human-interest focused

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

It affects many people or is of significant public interest

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Inserting the reporter's own opinion into factual reporting — it compromises objectivity

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Background context, additional details, or a forward-looking statement

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

A highlighted quote taken from the article body and displayed prominently on the page

Answer

A pull quote is a visually emphasized excerpt from the article's text, used to draw readers' attention and break up the page layout.

OSSLT - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Practice Test