News Writing Essentials 1

Open Ended

Why is it important for news writing to be clear, accurate, and engaging?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a primary function of a news headline?

• Summarizes the main idea

• Grabs attention

• Informs quickly

• Provides detailed analysis

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good headline?

• Short & Concise

• Accurate

• Uses passive voice

• Interesting

Multiple Choice

Match each headline style to its description: Declarative, Interrogative, Command, Label.

• Makes a statement about what happened; Poses a question to spark curiosity; Tells readers what to do or notice; Simply names the topic or event.

• Simply names the topic or event; Tells readers what to do or notice; Makes a statement about what happened; Poses a question to spark curiosity.

• Tells readers what to do or notice; Makes a statement about what happened; Simply names the topic or event; Poses a question to spark curiosity.

• Poses a question to spark curiosity; Makes a statement about what happened; Tells readers what to do or notice; Simply names the topic or event.

Open Ended

List two tips for writing effective headlines that help create impact and immediacy.

Fill in the Blank

A news lead should answer the 5W's and 1H: who, what, when, where, why, and ___.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are types of leads in news writing?

• Summary Lead

• Anecdotal Lead

• Descriptive Lead

• Opinion Lead

Open Ended

Explain why it is important to start a news lead with the main point rather than background information.

Open Ended

Explain how the inverted pyramid structure helps readers understand news stories efficiently.

Multiple Choice

Which section of the inverted pyramid structure should include history and additional context?

• Most Important Information

• Supporting Details

• Background Information

• Key Facts

Multiple Choice

Which of the following should be included in news body paragraphs to add credibility and human interest?

• Background information

• Direct quotes from relevant sources

• Personal opinions

• Unverified rumors

Fill in the Blank

Fill in the blank: When attributing a quote, always identify the ___ of the statement.

Multiple Select

Select all the purposes of using quotes in news reporting.

• Add credibility to reporting

• Provide expert opinions

• Show different perspectives

• Express the reporter's personal opinion

Open Ended

Describe two strategies for avoiding jargon in news writing and explain why they are important.

Open Ended

Why is the headline 'Fire Destroys Central High; Classes Canceled' considered better than 'Big flames!'?

Open Ended

Compare the examples of poor and good leads for the 'Weather Event' in the table. What makes the good lead more effective?

Fill in the Blank

Fill in the blank: A good news lead should answer key _______ in the first paragraph.

Multiple Choice

Which essential questions are included in the '5W+1H' approach to news writing?

• Who, what, when, where, why, how

• Who, what, when, where, why, whom

• Who, what, where, when, which, how

• Who, what, when, where, how, whose

Open Ended

How would you apply the principles of effective news headlines to improve communication in other forms of writing or media?