Question 1

What are the strengths of print journalism?

Accepted Answer

Detail and thoroughness.

Question 2

Print stories are much more dominated by timeliness and a concern for brevity than broadcast stories.

Accepted Answer

This statement is actually false. Broadcast stories are typically more time-constrained and require more brevity since they have to fit within a certain time slot (e.g. a 30-minute news broadcast). In contrast, print stories have more flexibility in terms of space and can often include more detail and background information. However, both types of stories are still concerned with timeliness and conciseness.

Question 3

How much information should be in a print story?

Accepted Answer

Include as much information as you deem relevant If you write long, the story can always be cut Do not overwrite or provide trivial detail Exercise news judgment of a story's newsworthiness and give editors all the information needed to effectively edit the story.

Question 4

What are transition words and why are they important to the flow of a news story?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are transition words and why are...

Question 5

Journalistic writing not only uses long leads, but it also favors long paragraphs because this gives readers a sense of substance to the subject, making it clear that the reporter really knows what he or she is writing about.

Accepted Answer

Journalistic writing actually favors short paragraphs because they are easier to read and can hold the reader's attention better. Short paragraphs also help to break up long blocks of text, making the article more visually appealing.

Question 6

How do subheads and "chunks of text" aid story flow?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do subheads and "chunks of text"...

Question 7

Information graphics have been welcomed by reporters, because they are a way to get out of writing a story (or having to understand a complicated subject).

Accepted Answer

While information graphics can certainly help reporters explain complex topics visually, they are not a substitute for writing a story or understanding the subject matter. Additionally, many reporters actually enjoy the challenge of breaking down complicated information into understandable language for their readers.

Question 8

What kind of stories are the basic "what happened" hard news stories of print
journalism?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What kind of stories are the basic...

Question 9

Given the material nature of today's society, lead with information about monetary loss in composing a story, even if there is serious injury or loss of life.

Accepted Answer

Journalistic ethics prioritize the reporting of loss of life or serious injury over monetary loss, emphasizing the human aspect and impact of events.

Question 10

Like it or not, a journalist's ultimate goal is to generate readers or viewers. Thus, reporters should hype stories for publicity's sake. Dress up a story to build your reputation as a tough investigative reporter. Go after public officials, suggesting misconduct even where there is none by playing "gotcha" with a politician you dislike. After all, you're doing it for those same readers and viewers.

Accepted Answer

While it is true that journalists want to generate readers or viewers, their ultimate goal is to provide accurate, unbiased reporting. Hype and sensationalism can undermine the credibility of a journalist and their news outlet, and going after public officials without evidence of misconduct can harm their reputation and the reputation of the profession as a whole. Journalism should prioritize truth and informing the public over publicity and personal gain.

Question 11

How should arrests be reported?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How should arrests be reported?...

Question 12

In reporting fires, accidents and crime, your story becomes more interesting if you quote extensively from witnesses. They were there and saw what happened and are in the best position to make judgments and speculations about events and interpret them for readers.

Accepted Answer

While quoting witnesses can add valuable perspectives and details to a story, journalists must exercise caution not to over-rely on witness accounts for judgments or speculations, as these can be biased or inaccurate. Objective facts and verified information should form the core of the report.

Question 13

Using words such as allegedly or reportedly shields a reporter from a libel suit should the facts in a story later turn out to be untrue.

Accepted Answer

Using words like "allegedly" or "reportedly" does not automatically shield a reporter from a libel suit if the story is defamatory and false; the context and how the information is presented also matter.

Question 14

In accident stories, always include a complete account of what happened and precisely where it happened, as well as information about the extent of injuries or death, and the exact offense with which any suspect is charged.

Accepted Answer

Including a complete account of what happened, the location, and the extent of injuries or death is important for providing accurate and comprehensive coverage of the accident. Reporting on the exact offense with which any suspect is charged is also important for accurately portraying the situation.

Question 15

Gather the names, ages and addresses of victims, arrested suspects, and witnesses in accident, fire and crime stories, even though newspapers have guidelines that would preclude printing some of this information.

Accepted Answer

It is important for journalists to gather the names, ages and addresses of victims, arrested suspects, and witnesses in accident, fire and crime stories for purposes of accurate reporting and transparency. While some information may not be published due to privacy concerns or journalistic guidelines, it should still be collected in the course of reporting.

Question 16

Newspapers are concerned about "victimizing the victim." What are general policies to prevent this from happening?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Newspapers are concerned about "victimizing the victim."...

Question 17

At times a reporter has questions about what should be reported, especially in criminal proceedings. What should they do?

Accepted Answer

The answer of At times a reporter has questions about...

Question 18

True journalists are stoutly loyal to the inverted pyramid and scorn narrative writing; there is no better way to tell a news story than to put as much of the traditional who, what, when, where, why and how into that lead paragraph!

Accepted Answer

While the inverted pyramid style is a traditional and widely used method in journalism for structuring news stories, it is not the only approach, nor is it universally preferred by all journalists. Many journalists and publications also value narrative writing and feature storytelling, which can offer depth, context, and a more engaging way to present complex stories. Different stories and audiences may require different approaches.

Question 19

Every news story is written in the same way: prioritize your material and organize the
topics you want to write about in the order of their importance.

Accepted Answer

Different news stories may follow various structures depending on their content, purpose, and audience. While the inverted pyramid structure prioritizes information from most to least important, other formats like narrative or feature stories might organize content differently to engage readers or provide depth.

Question 20

An obituary and a death notice are different names for the same thing.

Accepted Answer

An obituary is a longer and more detailed announcement of a person's death, including information about their life and achievements, while a death notice is a shorter announcement that simply states the fact of the person's passing and provides basic information about funeral arrangements.

Quiz 6: Basic News Stories