Essential Journalism Principles and News Writing Techniques
Posted on Jun 30, 2025 in Communication
Journalistic Skills & Critical Thinking
1. Sasha is covering the aftermath of a protest. Which of the following actions best shows her using reactive skills?
- When the police instigate violence, she changes the story to include information about police conduct in the area.
2. In a 24/7 news environment, critical thinking is…
- More important than ever.
3. The best way to find a “big picture” story is to…
- Look for patterns in stories written about a subject.
4. What is the effect of quality journalism on readers?
- It allows readers to make rational and educated decisions.
5. A good question will help the journalist…
- Understand the subject’s position on a topic.
6. Critical thinking requires…
- As much information as possible.
7. Which of the following best exemplifies egotism in journalism?
- Attaching special importance to one’s own thoughts.
8. A reporter covering the local neighborhood council should be a conduit between…
- Neighborhood council members and residents in the neighborhood.
9. How does critical thinking help journalists break down a story into simple pieces for their audience?
- It gives them a sense of what will happen and why it is newsworthy.
10. Which of the following personal characteristics is most likely to prevent you from thinking critically about a topic?
News Writing Structure & Quote Usage
11. You are writing a story on a highly publicized murder trial. According to the inverted pyramid approach, in which order should the facts appear?
- In descending order of importance.
12. What is the ideal structure of a lead?
- A single-sentence paragraph of 25 to 35 words.
13. Which of the following are potential problems with using partial quotes?
- Your editor may complain about your stories being too short.
14. A story you are writing on a recent zoning decision by the county commissioners includes a significant amount of background information on the history of the neighborhood in question. How should you structure this section of the story?
- Use a maximum of two sentences per paragraph.
15. What is the best way to report what the speaker said when a speech is long and riddled with filler words such as “um” and “you know”?
- Use an indirect quote to condense the speech.
16. What is the primary danger of using descriptive verbs of attribution such as “chuckled” or “growled”?
- You may misinterpret the speaker’s tone.
17. What type of quote is best to use when a source offers his or her opinion on why something did or didn’t happen?
18. When a quote extends to multiple sentences, where should the attribution appear?
- Between the first and second sentences of the quote.
19. The lead of a story should contain as much… as possible.
Enhancing Storytelling & Reader Engagement
20. When is it appropriate to use a partial quote?
- When a few keywords are enough to convey the meaning of a statement.
21. What is the purpose of a bridge paragraph?
- To help the reader move from the lead to the rest of the story.
22. Which of the following are benefits of subheads?
- They can be used to make a short story seem longer.
- They can cover up for a poorly organized story.
23. You are writing a story about conditions in a local jail. Which of the following sensory details would best place the reader in that specific environment?
- Describing the odor of sweat and urine that fills the halls.
24. Which of the following are required to create vivid word pictures for your readers?
- A strong mental image of people and places.
25. Where is the best place to put background information?
26. Which type of story most benefits from a quote bridge?
- Meeting, speech, or news conference.
27. Which of the following best explains the purpose of the nut graph?
- It explains to readers why a narrative story matters to them.
28. Which is a good method for smoothing the transition between subheads?
- Return to the narrative thread.
29. The best way to introduce a direct quote is to…
- Pair it with an indirect quote or paraphrase.
30. The… approach to news writing gives the most control to readers.
