Ten questions on the practice of journalism, each describing standard method rather than judging outlets.
Understanding how news is assembled makes it far easier to assess. This quiz covers the reporting questions, the structure of a story, the separation of news from opinion, and the verification that should precede publication. It also covers the legal ground journalists work on, including defamation and the protection of sources. The explanations stick to established practice and avoid commenting on the reliability of particular publications.
Every question in this quiz is listed below with its correct answer and the reasoning behind it. Play first if you would rather not see the answers — or read through as a study sheet.
Play it insteadAnswer: B. Why
Why: Who, what, when, where and why form the basic checklist for a news story, with how often added. They are meant to be answered early in the piece.
Answer: A. The opening of a story carrying its most important information
Why: The lede delivers the core of the story immediately. Burying it below less important material is known as burying the lede.
Answer: C. News agencies
Why: Agencies gather and supply reporting to subscribing outlets worldwide. Much international coverage in local papers originates with them.
Answer: B. The press
Why: It casts the press as a power alongside the traditional estates of the realm. The implication is a watchdog role over the other three.
Answer: D. Written or published form
Why: Libel covers defamation in a fixed form, while slander covers spoken defamation. Rules vary considerably between countries.
Answer: B. A piece expressing the publication's own position
Why: Editorials carry the institutional view of the publication, usually unsigned. Reputable outlets keep them clearly separated from news reporting.
Answer: A. Journalism, literature and musical composition
Why: They were established in 1917 under Joseph Pulitzer's will and are administered by Columbia University. The journalism categories are the best known.
Answer: A. Not revealing their identity publicly
Why: Sources often speak only on the condition of anonymity. Legal protection for this varies widely and is far from absolute.
Answer: C. Page size
Why: They referred purely to physical format, broadsheet being the larger. The words later acquired connotations about editorial style that the sizes never implied.
Answer: D. Verify claims before publication
Why: Checkers confirm names, figures and assertions against sources. Some outlets also publish standalone fact-checks of public claims.
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