Journalism fundamentals

• A. To entertain audiences with fictional stories
• B. To inform the public with accurate and timely information ✓
• C. To promote the interests of advertisers
• D. To express the personal opinions of the writer

Why: Journalism's core function is to gather, verify, and report information that helps the public understand events and issues affecting their lives and communities.

• A. Why did it take so long?
• B. Who, What, When, Where, Why ✓
• C. How much will it cost?
• D. Which one is better?

Why: The five Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why) along with How form the foundation of news reporting, helping reporters cover the essential facts of a story.

• A. Reporting only the writer's own viewpoint
• B. Presenting facts fairly and without bias as much as possible ✓
• C. Avoiding all research and relying on instinct
• D. Writing only about objects and physical things

Why: Objectivity means striving to report facts fairly, verifying information, and minimizing personal bias, even though perfect neutrality is difficult to achieve.

• A. Starting with background history and ending with the main news
• B. Placing the most important information at the beginning of the story ✓
• C. Writing stories in the form of a pyramid-shaped diagram
• D. Organizing stories chronologically from oldest to newest events

Why: The inverted pyramid places the most crucial facts first, followed by supporting details in decreasing order of importance, so readers get key information quickly and editors can cut from the bottom.

• A. To maximize the number of clicks regardless of accuracy
• B. To seek truth, minimize harm, and act independently ✓
• C. To always side with the most powerful people in a story
• D. To publish information before verifying it to beat competitors

Why: Core journalistic ethics, such as those outlined by professional codes, emphasize seeking truth, minimizing harm, acting independently, and being accountable to the public.

• A. Reporting the first version of a story to beat competitors
• B. Verifying facts and sources before publication and correcting errors promptly
• C. Presenting only the facts that support the reporter's viewpoint
• D. Using anonymous sources whenever possible to protect the story

• A. It always results in a libel lawsuit
• B. It can compromise the credibility of the information and create an incentive to fabricate or exaggerate
• C. It is illegal in every country
• D. It prevents the reporter from using the source's name

• A. Hiding the identity of all sources to avoid pressure
• B. Disclosing conflicts of interest and explaining how information was gathered when relevant
• C. Avoiding any mention of mistakes made in earlier coverage
• D. Writing stories without attributing any information

• A. Quietly edit the article without noting the change
• B. Ignore it unless someone complains
• C. Publish a clear correction, noting what was wrong and what is now accurate
• D. Delete the article entirely so no one can find the error

• A. Avoiding all stories that could upset anyone
• B. Weighing the public's need to know against potential harm to individuals, such as by considering the impact on victims or minors
• C. Never publishing names of public officials
• D. Softening every story so it cannot be criticized

• A. To get a simple yes or no answer
• B. To encourage the interviewee to explain and elaborate in their own words ✓
• C. To confirm facts that you already know
• D. To end the interview quickly

Why: Open-ended questions invite detailed responses, stories, and context that closed questions (yes/no or single-fact) typically cannot provide.

• A. How did you feel when the project failed?
• B. Can you walk me through what happened next?
• C. Were you present at the meeting on Tuesday? ✓
• D. What led you to start this organization?

Why: A closed question like 'Were you present at the meeting on Tuesday?' can be answered with a simple yes or no, while the other options invite longer, descriptive answers.

• A. Leading questions take too long to ask
• B. Leading questions suggest the desired answer and can bias the response ✓
• C. Leading questions are only used in legal settings
• D. Leading questions make the interviewee more talkative

Why: A leading question such as 'Wasn't the mayor's decision a disaster?' pushes the interviewee toward a particular answer, undermining the credibility and objectivity of the story.

• A. Move on to the next question immediately
• B. Change the subject to avoid conflict
• C. Ask a follow-up question to seek specific details or examples ✓
• D. Tell the interviewee their answer is wrong

Why: Follow-up questions such as 'Can you give me a specific example?' help clarify vague statements and gather concrete, quotable information.

• A. So the journalist can impress the subject with knowledge of their life
• B. So the journalist can ask informed, relevant questions and catch inconsistencies ✓
• C. So the journalist can avoid asking any questions at all
• D. So the journalist can write the story before the interview

Why: Preparation allows journalists to ask precise, informed questions, follow up on key points, and recognize when a claim does not match the available facts.

• A. Placing the least important details at the beginning and the most important at the end
• B. Placing the most important information at the top of the story and supporting details in descending order of importance
• C. Organizing the story chronologically from the first event to the last
• D. Starting with a personal anecdote before presenting the facts

• A. Who
• B. Why
• C. Where
• D. Whether

• A. Between 50 and 75 words to provide full context
• B. Around 20 to 25 words for clarity and readability
• C. At least two full paragraphs to establish the story
• D. Exactly one word to create dramatic impact

• A. Passive voice, which emphasizes the action over the actor
• B. Active voice, which clearly shows who is doing what
• C. Subjunctive mood, which expresses hypothetical situations
• D. Stream of consciousness, which captures internal thoughts

• A. Giving credit to the source of information, such as naming who said or provided a fact
• B. Assigning a headline to a story after it has been written
• C. Listing the reporter's qualifications at the end of an article
• D. Adjusting the word count of a story to fit available space

• A. Writing the headline to set the story's angle
• B. Identifying what is already known and what questions remain unanswered ✓
• C. Contacting the story's subject for an interview
• D. Publishing a preliminary draft to gauge reader interest

Why: Reviewing existing information and defining the open questions gives the reporter a clear research plan and prevents wasted effort. Headlines, interviews, and drafts typically come after the reporter understands the basic facts.

• A. The source may be quoted by name with full attribution
• B. The information may be used, but the source is not identified and cannot be directly quoted ✓
• C. The source has agreed to speak only on the record at a public event
• D. The source's identity is confirmed but the information is unverified

Why: On background means the reporter can use the information but must not attribute it to the source by name or direct quote. Journalists typically describe such sources generically, such as 'a government official,' to protect their identity.

• A. A news article summarizing a government report
• B. A textbook discussing historical events
• C. An eyewitness account of an event ✓
• D. A Wikipedia entry on the topic

Why: A primary source provides firsthand information, such as an eyewitness, original document, or raw data. Secondary sources, like news articles, textbooks, and encyclopedias, interpret or summarize information produced by others.

• A. Documents must be notarized by law before publication
• B. Forged or altered documents can mislead readers and damage the outlet's credibility ✓
• C. Verified documents are always longer and more detailed
• D. Unverified documents cannot be photographed for the article

Why: Publishing a forged or altered document can spread false information and seriously harm the news organization's reputation. Checking the source, date, metadata, and consistency with other records helps confirm authenticity before publication.

• A. To obtain private personal information about individuals
• B. To gain access to government documents and information that the public is entitled to see ✓
• C. To require companies to publish their financial statements
• D. To request that a court seal a case from public view

Why: Public records laws, such as the Freedom of Information Act in the United States, allow citizens and journalists to request government records. This is a key tool for investigative reporting and holding public institutions accountable.

• A. Shutter speed
• B. Aperture ✓
• C. ISO
• D. White balance

Why: Aperture, measured in f-stops, controls depth of field. A wide aperture (low f-number) produces a shallow depth of field with a blurred background, while a narrow aperture (high f-number) keeps more of the scene in focus.

• A. To make every photo perfectly symmetrical
• B. To guide the placement of subjects along imaginary grid lines for a balanced, engaging composition ✓
• C. To increase the brightness of the image
• D. To reduce the file size of digital photos

Why: The rule of thirds divides the frame into a 3x3 grid. Placing key subjects or points of interest along these lines or at their intersections creates a more dynamic and visually balanced composition than centering everything.

• A. Adjust colors and remove objects freely to improve the image
• B. Avoid altering the content of the image in ways that change its meaning or misrepresent the scene ✓
• C. Add dramatic elements to make the story more engaging
• D. Crop the image to fit any layout regardless of what is cut out

Why: Core photojournalism ethics hold that images must not be manipulated in ways that deceive viewers. Basic corrections like exposure and minor cropping for layout are typically acceptable, but adding, removing, or substantially altering content undermines credibility.

• A. It creates motion blur in a moving subject
• B. It freezes fast action, such as a runner or a falling object ✓
• C. It makes the image darker overall
• D. It increases the depth of field

Why: A fast shutter speed like 1/1000 second lets very little light in over a short time, freezing motion sharply. Slower speeds allow motion blur, which can convey movement but may cause blurry subjects if not intended.

• A. RAW files are always smaller and faster to send
• B. RAW files retain more image data, giving greater flexibility to correct exposure and white balance afterward ✓
• C. RAW files cannot be edited at all
• D. JPEG files are only used for printing

Why: RAW files store unprocessed sensor data with greater bit depth than JPEGs, which apply compression and in-camera processing. This gives photographers more latitude to recover highlights and shadows and adjust white balance without degrading image quality.

• A. To publish opinion columns for local newspapers
• B. To supply news stories and photos to subscribing media outlets
• C. To regulate the accuracy of broadcast journalism
• D. To sell advertising space on behalf of newspapers

• A. A security system that blocks hackers from accessing a website
• B. A barrier that requires users to pay or subscribe to access content
• C. A layout grid used to position advertisements on a page
• D. A legal limit on how much content a publisher can share

• A. Print newspapers
• B. Social media platforms
• C. Printed magazines
• D. Radio broadcasts

• A. Provide the full summary of the story's conclusion
• B. List the sources cited in the article
• C. Capture reader attention and summarize the main point of the story
• D. Give the author's name and credentials

• A. A software tool for creating, editing, and organizing digital content
• B. A government agency that licenses media companies
• C. A marketing strategy for selling print subscriptions
• D. A database that stores reader payment information only