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WorksheetsJournalism Test Review
Total questions: 25
Worksheet time: 9mins
What is the formal definition of Journalism according to Merriam-Webster?
The collection and editing of news for presentation through the media.
The unbiased discussion of political opinions for civic engagement.
The distribution of advertising to targeted audiences.
The storytelling of human-interest features for entertainment.
Which statement best contrasts the Partisan Press era with the subsequent Penny Papers era in the 19th century?
Partisan Press emphasized political viewpoints and Penny Papers were cheaper and focused.
Partisan Press was cheap mass-market; Penny Papers were elite political journals.
Both eras rejected advertising to maintain neutrality.
Penny Papers promoted a single party line more strictly than Partisan Press.
Select ALL the unethical practices commonly associated with Yellow Journalism.
Using faked pictures.
Giving fake dates for when a crime happened.
Changing names or birthdates of people in the obituary section.
Publishing only peer-reviewed research studies.
Which factors determine whether a story is newsworthy?
Timeliness and newness.
If a person that you know is involved in it.
The length of the article exceeds 1,000 words.
The story has exclusively anonymous sources.
How has the efficiency and speed of internet/social media impacted the traditional news cycle of TV and print?
It threatens traditional outlets by speeding news, enabling misinformation.
It strengthens traditional outlets by speeding up news and eliminating misinformation.
It reduces corporate dominance by removing advertising from news.
It has no significant effect on the news cycle of TV and print.
Which form of broadcast news do people still invite into their daily lives?
Radio
TV
Online video streams
Newspapers
What is a muckraker?
A journalist critical of big business, finding scandal.
A government official who censors wartime news.
A public relations professional who promotes corporate products.
A media consumer who avoids political content.
How did the aggressive, opinionated style of hosts like Bill O'Reilly affect cable news in the early 2000s?
A confrontational, opinionated format with hosts interrupting guests and maintaining control became dominant.
Cable news shifted to long-form neutral documentaries without host commentary.
Networks abandoned debates for entirely scripted programming.
The tone became uniformly nonpartisan and conciliatory.
Why is Human Oversight considered the crucial ethical requirement when A.I. tools are used in the newsroom?
Human expertise and judgment are required.
A.I. should make all editorial decisions because it is unbiased.
Oversight is optional if the A.I. source code is open.
Accountability can be assigned to the software vendor.
Which statement best describes Transparency in A.I. usage in journalism and explains why it is important for maintaining reader trust?
Being open and clear about reporting methods, sources, and processes with oversight.
Keeping proprietary A.I. tools secret to protect competitive advantage and prevent readers from questioning methods
Relying primarily on A.I. to generate content so reporters can produce more stories more quickly
Allowing anonymous sources to guide A.I. content generation without disclosure to readers
Which incident illustrates a negative outcome that occurred when A.I. was used in journalism without proper human checks?
An A.I. program wrote Major League Soccer game recaps that fans criticized as lifeless and incorrect
A newspaper used A.I. to spell‑check articles, resulting in cleaner copy and higher reader satisfaction
A broadcaster used A.I. to schedule interviews, which improved punctuality
A magazine used A.I. to transcribe quotes verbatim, increasing accuracy
What is the ethical opportunity for Christian journalists working in mainstream media?
To work within large publications with a Biblical worldview by avoiding jargon
To prioritize insider terminology so Christian sources recognize shared beliefs
To minimize engagement with secular audiences to reduce ethical conflicts
To use A.I. extensively so ethical decisions are automated
When preparing for an interview, what is the importance of building trust and credibility with the subject?
It establishes a relationship conducive to obtaining information, puts sources at ease, and makes them more likely to share in an interesting way
It allows the interviewer to pressure the subject into quick answers
It replaces the need for background research on the subject
It ensures the subject agrees with the interviewer’s perspective
Select one of the four principles of interviewing described as helping a journalist achieve a good interview.
Gain no further background information on the subject
Establish a relationship with the source conducive to obtaining information
Ask questions that deal with an issue outside of the interview
Prioritize challenging and confrontational questions to test the source
What is the primary goal a journalist should have when crafting interview questions for a source with an opposing viewpoint?
Ask open‑ended questions for both honesty and integrity
Frame questions to provoke concessions and score debate points
Design questions to steer the source toward agreeing with the interviewer’s position
Use leading questions that expose contradictions to discredit the source
What is the ethical purpose of a photograph in photojournalism, and why is that purpose distinct from self-expression?
To report on a story and convey the truth because photojournalists follow ethics that prioritize factual reporting
To provoke an emotional response and showcase creative style, distinct from self-expression
To advertise a subject using persuasive visuals, distinct from self-expression
To entertain audiences with striking compositions, distinct from self-expression
Define the ethical guideline that states an image must not be staged, and explain why this rule exists.
Images must not be staged because staging manipulates reality and undermines truthfulness and credibility
Images should be lightly staged to improve composition since accuracy is secondary to clarity
Images must be staged to ensure every important detail is visible to viewers
Images may be staged if the subject consents because consent guarantees objectivity
What key technological advance ushered in the "Golden Age" of photojournalism in the 1920s?
Smaller, more portable cameras combined with faster film speeds
The invention of television broadcasting
Digital image sensors in cameras
A microphone to help give the photojournalist a new aspect of reporting
What is the main purpose of a human interest story, and what type of emotional connection is it designed to create with the reader?
To humanize events and make hard news relatable by sparking emotions
To present technical data and policy details with minimal emotional engagement
To persuade readers to adopt a specific position through argumentative analysis
To entertain readers with fictionalized accounts unrelated to real events
What is the fundamental purpose of a press release when an organization sends it to a journalist?
To share newsworthy information with media, partners, or the public to generate coverage and build credibility
To replace independent reporting by dictating the exact story a journalist must publish
To provide confidential internal updates that should not be shared publicly
To advertise products directly to consumers without involving the media
Which set correctly lists the "Five Ws and H" that a well-written press release must contain?
Who, What, Where, When, Why, How
Who, What, Where, When, Which, How
Who, What, Where, When, How, Which
Who, When, Where, Why, How
Explain the difference between the roles of a Play-by-Play Announcer and a Color Commentator in sports broadcasting.
The Play-by-Play Announcer narrates the action and the Color Commentator provides in-depth analysis
The Play-by-Play Announcer offers historical background, while the Color Commentator reads sponsor messages
The Play-by-Play Announcer manages camera operations, while the Color Commentator describes play during the game
The Play-by-Play Announcer delivers postgame interviews, while the Color Commentator handles the game action
What does USDA Market News provide, and how do farmers and producers use it?
Entertainment stories that promote local farms, used to attract tourists
Free, unbiased price and sales information
Government subsidies listings, used to apply for financial aid
Weather forecasts, used to plan harvest schedules
Which approach best describes strategic communication in public relations?
Spontaneous messaging without alignment to organizational goals
Coordinating PR efforts for consistent public messaging
Focusing only on internal memos and avoiding public outreach
Prioritizing viral content over accuracy or alignment
In public relations, what does RPIE stand for within a structured framework?
Reporting, Promotion, Influence, Engagement
Research, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
Reach, Publish, Iterate, Expand
Review, Prepare, Integrate, Execute
