Journalism Techniques Quiz

Questions and Answers

The margin separating two facing pages is known as the ______.

gutter

The spacing between lines of typeset material is referred to as ______.

leading

Information that a reporter may publish, attribute to a source, and quote is considered ______.

on record

The unit of measurement where six picas equal one inch is called a ______.

pica Signup and view all the answers

An interviewer's question for further clarification after an initial response is known as a ______.

follow-up Signup and view all the answers

Reporters use ______ quotations when the exact words of the source are not necessary or effective.

indirect Signup and view all the answers

To achieve clarity in reporting, it is important to summarise or ______ the source’s remarks effectively.

paraphrase Signup and view all the answers

Using ______ words or phrases helps to create a smooth flow between different ideas in a news story.

transitional Signup and view all the answers

Reporters must be careful to avoid presenting remarks that are unclear, irrelevant, or ______.

libellous Signup and view all the answers

When attributing information in an article, it is vital to accurately represent the ______ of the quotes used.

source Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Reporting Essentials

Reporters serve as the eyes and ears for readers, enhancing stories with visual details.
Face-to-face interviews are preferred to capture emotional nuances, while phone interviews may lack depth.

Transitional Devices

Smooth transitions are crucial for clarity in longer news stories that cover multiple ideas.
Common transitional words for time: earlier, later, soon, meanwhile, at the same time.
Location-focused transitions include: in the state capital, at home, on Main Street.
Action-related transitions can be: turning to, suddenly, grabbing his hand.
Contrast transitions help highlight differing perspectives: however, nevertheless, on the other hand.

Quotations in Reporting

Quotations can be direct, partial, or indirect, providing a range of information.
Indirect quotations summarize or paraphrase a source's remarks without quotation marks, enhancing clarity.
Reporters can emphasize significant points and reword unclear or irrelevant comments when using indirect quotations.

Print Terms

Folio: Includes page number, date, and price of the paper.
Gutter: Space separating two facing pages.
Hairline: A line separating two columns within a layout.
Index: List of topics or articles.
Leading: Space between lines in typeset material.
Logo: Main identification on the front page.
Newshole: Space allocated for editorial content excluding advertisements.
OPED: Opinion Editorial.
Pica: Measurement unit; six picas equal one inch.
RBL: Reverse Block Line.
Tabloid: Newspaper format that is half the size of standard newspapers.

Interview Terminology

ETL: Emotional Tone Level; assesses the emotional aspects of interviews.
Off Record: Information not intended for publication, meant solely for the reporter's knowledge.
Background: Information that can be published without attribution.
On Record: Information that can be published and attributed to the source.

Personal Qualities of a Good Reporter

Should be pleasant, neat, intellectually alert, optimistic, and adaptable.

Language of Journalism

Journalism has developed a unique terminology that gives new meanings to various terms.

News Story Terminology

Attribution: Acknowledgment of the information source in a news story.
Blow Up: Exaggerating the importance of a story or enlarging images in print.
Body: The main content of a news story, excluding the headline and lead.
Body Type: Standard type size (usually 8 points) used for newspaper stories.
Break-over: Continuation of a story from one page to another.

Description

Test your knowledge on effective journalism techniques, focusing on the importance of interviews and the use of transitional devices in storytelling. This quiz explores how to enhance your reporting with vivid details and smooth transitions between ideas.