If a source speaks "on background", what has usually been agreed?

The information can be used but the source is not named

Nothing said may be published in any form

The quotes may be published word for word with full attribution

The story must be shown to the source before it runs

What is a press embargo?

An agreement not to publish information before a stated time

A ban on a reporter entering a country

A refusal by an official to answer questions

A newspaper's decision to drop a story

The legal doctrine of prior restraint concerns what?

Preventing material from being published in the first place

Punishing a publication after it has appeared

Requiring corrections to be printed

Limiting how long a source may be quoted

What is a shield law?

A law protecting journalists from being compelled to name their sources

A law limiting what may be reported about a trial

A law protecting public figures from criticism

A law requiring broadcasters to give equal airtime

What does a newspaper's ombudsman or readers' editor do?

Handles complaints about the paper's own journalism

In a news story, what does attribution mean?

Stating where a piece of information came from

Naming the reporter in the byline

Listing sources at the foot of the article

A correction differs from a clarification in that a correction does what?

Puts right a factual error the publication made

Restates the publication's editorial position

Answers a question raised by a reader

What counts as a conflict of interest for a journalist?

A personal or financial stake that could compromise the reporting

A disagreement between two editors

Two outlets chasing the same story

In libel law, what does the defence of truth require?

That the statement complained of is substantially true

That the publisher honestly believed it was true

That the subject was offered a chance to respond

That no financial loss resulted

Journalism & Media Medium ⚡ 10 Questions ⏱️ ~7 Mins +100 XP

The Rules Reporters Work By

Most of journalism is governed by conventions nobody voted on and laws that vary wildly by country.

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Journalism runs on a set of agreements that have no legal force at all. On the record, on background and off the record mean whatever a particular newsroom and a particular source take them to mean, and disputes over which one applied have ended careers. Embargoes work the same way: nobody can be sued for breaking one, but a newsroom that does will find the next set of advance copies goes elsewhere. Around those conventions sits real law, and it differs sharply between countries. American courts treat stopping publication in advance as almost always unconstitutional; English courts grant injunctions far more readily. In a libel case the burden of proof falls on opposite sides of the Atlantic. This quiz covers both layers — the customs and the law — and where the two pull against each other.

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The Rules Reporters Work By: all 10 questions and answers

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1If a source speaks "on background", what has usually been agreed?
- A The story must be shown to the source before it runs
- B The information can be used but the source is not named Correct
- C Nothing said may be published in any form
- D The quotes may be published word for word with full attribution
Answer: B. The information can be used but the source is not named

Why: On the record means named and quotable; off the record means not for publication at all. None of the three has any legal force, and newsrooms define them slightly differently.
2What is a press embargo?
- A An agreement not to publish information before a stated time Correct
- B A ban on a reporter entering a country
- C A refusal by an official to answer questions
- D A newspaper's decision to drop a story
Answer: A. An agreement not to publish information before a stated time

Why: Advance copies of reports, speeches and scientific papers are released under one so that journalists can prepare properly. Breaking an embargo costs a newsroom access rather than money.
3The legal doctrine of prior restraint concerns what?
- A Punishing a publication after it has appeared
- B Requiring corrections to be printed
- C Limiting how long a source may be quoted
- D Preventing material from being published in the first place Correct
Answer: D. Preventing material from being published in the first place

Why: American courts treat it as almost always unconstitutional, following the Pentagon Papers ruling. Courts in England and elsewhere grant pre-publication injunctions considerably more readily.
4What is a shield law?
- A A law protecting public figures from criticism
- B A law requiring broadcasters to give equal airtime
- C A law protecting journalists from being compelled to name their sources Correct
- D A law limiting what may be reported about a trial
Answer: C. A law protecting journalists from being compelled to name their sources

Why: Most American states have one, and the protection they offer varies a great deal. There is no single federal statute covering every case, which is why contempt fights still reach the courts.
5What does a newspaper's ombudsman or readers' editor do?
- A Represents the paper in court
- B Handles complaints about the paper's own journalism Correct
- C Sells advertising space
- D Manages the printing schedule
Answer: B. Handles complaints about the paper's own journalism

Why: The role deliberately sits outside the newsroom's chain of command so that it can criticise it. Many papers have cut the position since the 2000s on cost grounds.
6Which convention requires a reporter to seek comment from the subject of a critical story before publishing?
- A The right of reply Correct
- B Qualified privilege
- C Fair comment
- D The public interest test
Answer: A. The right of reply

Why: It reduces the risk of error as much as the risk of a claim. Several European countries write a version of it into law rather than leaving it to custom.
7In a news story, what does attribution mean?
- A Crediting the photographer
- B Naming the reporter in the byline
- C Listing sources at the foot of the article
- D Stating where a piece of information came from Correct
Answer: D. Stating where a piece of information came from

Why: It lets a reader weigh the source rather than take the reporter's word. Style guides reserve their sharpest warnings for claims that carry none.
8A correction differs from a clarification in that a correction does what?
- A Withdraws an entire article
- B Answers a question raised by a reader
- C Puts right a factual error the publication made Correct
- D Restates the publication's editorial position
Answer: C. Puts right a factual error the publication made

Why: A clarification addresses something that was accurate but open to being misread. Running both in a fixed place each day is standard practice at papers that take them seriously.
9What counts as a conflict of interest for a journalist?
- A Two outlets chasing the same story
- B A personal or financial stake that could compromise the reporting Correct
- C A disagreement between two editors
- D A clash between two deadlines
Answer: B. A personal or financial stake that could compromise the reporting

Why: Codes of practice usually require disclosure, or withdrawal from the story altogether. Owning shares in a company on your beat is the textbook case.
10In libel law, what does the defence of truth require?
- A That the statement complained of is substantially true Correct
- B That the publisher honestly believed it was true
- C That the subject was offered a chance to respond
- D That no financial loss resulted
Answer: A. That the statement complained of is substantially true

Why: Substantial truth is enough, so minor inaccuracies do not defeat it. Who has to prove what differs sharply between English and American courts.

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The Rules Reporters Work By has 10 questions and takes about 7 minutes to finish. It is rated Medium and sits in our Journalism & Media category.

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Each of the 10 correct answers adds 10 XP, up to 100 XP for a clean run. Wrong answers cost you nothing, and your full question-by-question review is shown at the end.

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Yes. All 10 questions carry a written explanation of why the correct answer is right, so the quiz works as a study sheet as well as a test.

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The Rules Reporters Work By

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The Rules Reporters Work By: all 10 questions and answers

1If a source speaks "on background", what has usually been agreed?

2What is a press embargo?

3The legal doctrine of prior restraint concerns what?

4What is a shield law?

5What does a newspaper's ombudsman or readers' editor do?

6Which convention requires a reporter to seek comment from the subject of a critical story before publishing?

7In a news story, what does attribution mean?

8A correction differs from a clarification in that a correction does what?

9What counts as a conflict of interest for a journalist?

10In libel law, what does the defence of truth require?

Frequently asked questions about The Rules Reporters Work By

How many questions are in The Rules Reporters Work By?

How is The Rules Reporters Work By scored?

Are the answers to The Rules Reporters Work By explained?

Can I replay The Rules Reporters Work By?

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