FBLA Journalism Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Blog - CORRECT ANSWER - Short for Web log. A Web-based publication in which
articles, issued periodically, appear in reverse chronological order
Bureau - CORRECT ANSWER - A news-gathering office maintained by a newspaper
somewhere other tan its central location. Papers may have bureaus in the next county; in the state
capital; in Washington, D.C.; or in foreign countries
Byline - CORRECT ANSWER - A line identifying the author of a story
Citizen Journalism - CORRECT ANSWER - A new form of media in which citizens
actively participate in gathering and writing information, often in the form of news
Closed-ended question - CORRECT ANSWER - A direct question designed to draw a
specific response--for example, "Will you be a candidate?"
Contextual advertising - CORRECT ANSWER - Advertising on a website that is directed
to likely users of that site based on demographic profiles
Convergence - CORRECT ANSWER - The coordination of print, broadcast and online
reporting in a news operation. The terms is defined in different ways by different people in the
media industry
Copy - CORRECT ANSWER - What reporters write. A story is a piece of copy
Copy desk - CORRECT ANSWER - The newspaper desk at which the final editing of
stories is done, headlines are written and pages are designed
,Copy editor - CORRECT ANSWER - A person who checks, polishes and corrects stories
written by reporters. Usually copy editors write headlines for these stories; sometimes they
decide how to arrange soties and pictures on a page
Cover - CORRECT ANSWER - To keep abreast of significant developments on a beat or
to report on a specific event. The reporter covering the police beat may be assigned to cover a
murder, for example
Crowdsourcing - CORRECT ANSWER - The practice of asking members of the public to
provide information for a story
Cutline - CORRECT ANSWER - The caption that accompanies a newspaper or magazine
photograph. The terms dates from the days when photos were reproduced with etched zinc plates
called cuts.
Deadline - CORRECT ANSWER - The time by which a reporter, editor or desk must have
all scheduled work completed
Deep background - CORRECT ANSWER - Information that may be used but that cannot
be attributed to either a person or a position.
Desk - CORRECT ANSWER - A term used by reporters to refer to the city editor's or copy
editor's position, as in "The desk wants this story by noon"
Editor - CORRECT ANSWER - The top-ranking individual in te news department of a
newspaper, also known as the editor-in-chief. The term may refer as well to those at any level
who edit copy
Editorial department - CORRECT ANSWER - Generally, the news department that is
responsible for all newspaper content except advertising. At some papers this term refers to the
department responsible for the editorial page only.
, Editorialize - CORRECT ANSWER - To inject the reporter's or the newspaper's opinion
into a news story or headline. Most newspapers restrict opinion to analysis stories, columns and
editorials
Facebook - CORRECT ANSWER - A social networking site that connects friends and
acquaintances. It also offers businesses, including news media, an opportunity to connect with
customers.
Fair comment and criticism - CORRECT ANSWER - Opinion delivered about the
performance of anyone in the public eye. Such opinion is legally protected as long as it is not
malicious and reporters do not misstate any of the facts on which it is based.
Freedom of Information Act - CORRECT ANSWER - A law passed in 1966 to make it
easier to obtain information from federal agencies. The law was amended in 1974 to improve
access to government records
Futures file - CORRECT ANSWER - A collection-filed according to date- of newspaper
stories, letters, notes and other information to remind editors about stories to assign. See also
tickler
Gatekeeper - CORRECT ANSWER - An editor who determines what readers or viewers
read, hear, and see.
Graf - CORRECT ANSWER - A shortened form of paragraph, as in "Give me two grafs on
that fire."
Graphics editors - CORRECT ANSWER - Usually, the editor responsible for all non
photographic illustrations in a newspaper, including information graphics, maps, and illustrations
Hard lead - CORRECT ANSWER - A lead that reports a new development or a newly
discovered fact. See also soft lead
CORRECT Answers
Blog - CORRECT ANSWER - Short for Web log. A Web-based publication in which
articles, issued periodically, appear in reverse chronological order
Bureau - CORRECT ANSWER - A news-gathering office maintained by a newspaper
somewhere other tan its central location. Papers may have bureaus in the next county; in the state
capital; in Washington, D.C.; or in foreign countries
Byline - CORRECT ANSWER - A line identifying the author of a story
Citizen Journalism - CORRECT ANSWER - A new form of media in which citizens
actively participate in gathering and writing information, often in the form of news
Closed-ended question - CORRECT ANSWER - A direct question designed to draw a
specific response--for example, "Will you be a candidate?"
Contextual advertising - CORRECT ANSWER - Advertising on a website that is directed
to likely users of that site based on demographic profiles
Convergence - CORRECT ANSWER - The coordination of print, broadcast and online
reporting in a news operation. The terms is defined in different ways by different people in the
media industry
Copy - CORRECT ANSWER - What reporters write. A story is a piece of copy
Copy desk - CORRECT ANSWER - The newspaper desk at which the final editing of
stories is done, headlines are written and pages are designed
,Copy editor - CORRECT ANSWER - A person who checks, polishes and corrects stories
written by reporters. Usually copy editors write headlines for these stories; sometimes they
decide how to arrange soties and pictures on a page
Cover - CORRECT ANSWER - To keep abreast of significant developments on a beat or
to report on a specific event. The reporter covering the police beat may be assigned to cover a
murder, for example
Crowdsourcing - CORRECT ANSWER - The practice of asking members of the public to
provide information for a story
Cutline - CORRECT ANSWER - The caption that accompanies a newspaper or magazine
photograph. The terms dates from the days when photos were reproduced with etched zinc plates
called cuts.
Deadline - CORRECT ANSWER - The time by which a reporter, editor or desk must have
all scheduled work completed
Deep background - CORRECT ANSWER - Information that may be used but that cannot
be attributed to either a person or a position.
Desk - CORRECT ANSWER - A term used by reporters to refer to the city editor's or copy
editor's position, as in "The desk wants this story by noon"
Editor - CORRECT ANSWER - The top-ranking individual in te news department of a
newspaper, also known as the editor-in-chief. The term may refer as well to those at any level
who edit copy
Editorial department - CORRECT ANSWER - Generally, the news department that is
responsible for all newspaper content except advertising. At some papers this term refers to the
department responsible for the editorial page only.
, Editorialize - CORRECT ANSWER - To inject the reporter's or the newspaper's opinion
into a news story or headline. Most newspapers restrict opinion to analysis stories, columns and
editorials
Facebook - CORRECT ANSWER - A social networking site that connects friends and
acquaintances. It also offers businesses, including news media, an opportunity to connect with
customers.
Fair comment and criticism - CORRECT ANSWER - Opinion delivered about the
performance of anyone in the public eye. Such opinion is legally protected as long as it is not
malicious and reporters do not misstate any of the facts on which it is based.
Freedom of Information Act - CORRECT ANSWER - A law passed in 1966 to make it
easier to obtain information from federal agencies. The law was amended in 1974 to improve
access to government records
Futures file - CORRECT ANSWER - A collection-filed according to date- of newspaper
stories, letters, notes and other information to remind editors about stories to assign. See also
tickler
Gatekeeper - CORRECT ANSWER - An editor who determines what readers or viewers
read, hear, and see.
Graf - CORRECT ANSWER - A shortened form of paragraph, as in "Give me two grafs on
that fire."
Graphics editors - CORRECT ANSWER - Usually, the editor responsible for all non
photographic illustrations in a newspaper, including information graphics, maps, and illustrations
Hard lead - CORRECT ANSWER - A lead that reports a new development or a newly
discovered fact. See also soft lead
