Journalism test out 2026

News is what is happening NOW. If it happened last month or last year, it’s not news anymore; it’s history.  

Timeliness/ Immediacy

How close to your readers did something happen? Will they feel connected?

Proximity

How will this event affect your readers? 

Impact / Consequence

Is a well-known person part of the story?

Prominence / Celebrity

Is there a disagreement between people in the story? Rivalry? Misunderstanding?

Conflict

Does it make you laugh, cry, angry?

Human Interest / Emotion

Is it odd, rare, weird, a “first” or otherwise outside the ordinary?

Oddity / Rarity / Novelty/Unusualness

 Is it something everyone is talking about in social media or other news media?

Currency

What is prior review?

When a school official reviews student journalism before it is published.

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

Schools can censor school-sponsored student publications for legitimate educational reasons.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Students have free speech rights at school if they don't substantially disrupt school.

Dean v. Utica

Student newspapers can have First Amendment protection from unjustified censorship.

Limited Public Forum

A government space where certain speech or groups are allowed.

Buckley Amendment

Protects student education records and privacy.

Draudt v. Wooster

Case involving school control/censorship of student publications.

Libel

False, harmful written statement.

Defamation of Character

False statement that harms someone's reputation.

Obscenity

Reporting without personal opinions or bias.

Retraction

Public correction or withdrawal of false information.

Right to Privacy

Right to keep personal information/private life protected.

Nut Graf

Explains the main point/importance of a story.

Confidentiality

Keeping information or a source private.

Slander

False, harmful spoken statement.

Summary Lead

Gives the most important facts first.

Anecdotal Lead

Starts with a short personal story.

Descriptive Lead

Uses details to create a vivid picture.

Question Lead

Starts with a question.

Quotation Lead

Starts with a relevant quote.

Startling Statement Lead

Starts with a surprising/shocking fact.

Direct-Address Lead

Communicates directly with readers by using the second-person pronoun "you" or "your"

Audience

Always remember who your readers are and how to appeal to them

Policy

publications may choose not to report something that would otherwise be newsworthy because of their policies.  

SATIRE

Uses humor or exaggeration to critique or

mock a person, organization or policy.

FALSE CONTEXT

Takes an image, a quote or other piece of

content and puts it into a new, false context

to change its meaning.

IMPOSTER CONTENT

Falsely uses a well-known name, brand or

logo to fool people into believing that it is

authentic content.

FABRICATED CONTENT

Is entirely made up and is designed to

deceive you into thinking that it’s real.

MANIPULATED CONTENT

Makes changes in original material in an eort to deceive or create a false context (for example,

an image where something has been added or deleted using photo editing tools).

Headlines need a…

Verb and subject

Words to avoid while writing headlines

 a, an, is, are or the

What should you NOT begin a headline with?

Verbs, because it may confuse the audience about who is doing it

Is it okay to use abbreviations in headlines?

NO!!!

What can you replace “and” with in headlines

commas

What Capitalization system does the windup use?

“Down” style: capitalize words as in ordinary sentence usage--that is, capitalize only the first word of the headline and any proper names.

What are the two most important requirements when using quotes in journalism?

Quotes must be accurate, and attribution (names and titles) must be flawless.

Where does the comma go when a quote is followed by an attribution?

Inside the quotation marks before the attribution.

What are the two most important requirements when using quotes in journalism?

Quotes must be accurate, and attribution must be flawless.

Where does the comma go when a quote is followed by an attribution?

Inside the quotation marks before the attribution.

What punctuation is used before the attribution if the quote is a question?

A question mark inside the quotation marks.

When mentioning a source for the first time, what name should be used?

The person's first and last name.

When mentioning a source after the first reference, what name should be used?

Only the person's last name.

Where should the word "said" appear in a standard attribution?

After the person's name.

What attribution verb should journalists generally use?

"Said."

Which attribution verbs should generally be avoided in news writing?

Verbs such as exclaimed, shouted, cried, explained, and announced. Use "said" instead.

How should a one-sentence quote be formatted?

“I love to be quoted in the newspaper,” Mrs. Lydia Cadena said.

What is an important rule for two-sentence quotes?

The two sentences must have been spoken consecutively and should not be combined from different parts of an interview.

How should a two-sentence quote be formatted?

“I love to be quoted in the newspaper,” Mrs. Cadena said. “It makes me feel intelligent and important.”

Why should you never combine separate comments into one quote?

It can take comments out of context and create inaccuracies.

When may "said" come before the person's name?

When a long title or description separates the subject and verb.

Why should long quotes be broken into multiple paragraphs?

To make them easier to read and follow journalism style.

Where should long quotes be broken?

Between sentences only.

What happens to quotation marks when a quote continues into another paragraph?

The first paragraph does not end with a closing quotation mark. The next paragraph begins with an opening quotation mark and ends with a closing quotation mark.

What is the purpose of a transitional sentence in an extended quote?

To connect separate quoted sections smoothly.

Correct this attribution: “The British are coming!” Paul Revere shouted.

“The British are coming!” Paul Revere said.

Correct this attribution: “Nice guys,” Leo Durocher said, “finish last.”

“Nice guys finish last,” Leo Durocher said.

Correct this sentence: “Smoking can only be stopped” Welton said, with the cooperation of the student body. Students are hurting themselves and others”

“Smoking can only be stopped with the cooperation of the student body,” Welton said. “Students are hurting themselves and others.”

Correct this sentence: According to Brad Sahy, a counselor at Good Samaritan Hospital, “It seems to me that there are a lot more people gambling than there were before” he said.

“It seems to me that there are a lot more people gambling than there were before,” Brad Sahy, a counselor at Good Samaritan Hospital, said.

Correct this sentence: “It should be based on grades” Principal Blomgren said “ not attendance”

“It should be based on grades, not attendance,” Principal Blomgren said.

What are four common attribution mistakes journalists should avoid?

Incorrect punctuation, incorrect placement of attribution, using verbs other than "said," and misspelling names or titles.

What is the safest attribution formula in journalism?

“Quote,” Name said.

Why is accurate attribution important?

People expect their names, titles, and words to be represented correctly, and inaccuracies damage credibility.