ARIZONA JOURNALISM AND MEDIA
PROFESSIONAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS AND RATIONALES LATEST
2026 UPDATE
1–10: Media Ethics & Law
1. What does the First Amendment primarily protect in journalism?
A. Right to privacy
B. Freedom of speech and press
C. Right to public funding
D. Copyright ownership
Answer: B
Rationale: It guarantees freedom of speech and press, forming the basis
of U.S. journalism rights.
2. Libel is defined as:
A. Spoken false statements
B. Written false statements that harm reputation
C. Opinion-based criticism
D. Government censorship
Answer: B
Rationale: Libel refers to written defamatory statements.
3. Slander refers to:
A. Written defamation
B. Spoken defamation
C. Photographic manipulation
D. Ethical journalism
Answer: B
4. Which is NOT a defense against libel?
A. Truth
, B. Opinion
C. Malice
D. Privilege
Answer: C
Rationale: Malice worsens liability rather than defending against it.
5. Prior restraint refers to:
A. Publishing corrections
B. Government censorship before publication
C. Post-publication review
D. Editorial approval
Answer: B
6. Ethical journalism requires reporters to:
A. Fabricate quotes for clarity
B. Avoid verifying sources
C. Verify facts before publication
D. Hide corrections
Answer: C
7. Plagiarism in journalism is:
A. Rewriting news
B. Using someone else’s work without credit
C. Editing content
D. Fact-checking sources
Answer: B
8. Which protects journalists from revealing confidential sources?
A. Shield laws
B. Libel laws
C. Copyright law
D. HIPAA
Answer: A
9. Defamation requires proof of:
A. Intent only
PROFESSIONAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS AND RATIONALES LATEST
2026 UPDATE
1–10: Media Ethics & Law
1. What does the First Amendment primarily protect in journalism?
A. Right to privacy
B. Freedom of speech and press
C. Right to public funding
D. Copyright ownership
Answer: B
Rationale: It guarantees freedom of speech and press, forming the basis
of U.S. journalism rights.
2. Libel is defined as:
A. Spoken false statements
B. Written false statements that harm reputation
C. Opinion-based criticism
D. Government censorship
Answer: B
Rationale: Libel refers to written defamatory statements.
3. Slander refers to:
A. Written defamation
B. Spoken defamation
C. Photographic manipulation
D. Ethical journalism
Answer: B
4. Which is NOT a defense against libel?
A. Truth
, B. Opinion
C. Malice
D. Privilege
Answer: C
Rationale: Malice worsens liability rather than defending against it.
5. Prior restraint refers to:
A. Publishing corrections
B. Government censorship before publication
C. Post-publication review
D. Editorial approval
Answer: B
6. Ethical journalism requires reporters to:
A. Fabricate quotes for clarity
B. Avoid verifying sources
C. Verify facts before publication
D. Hide corrections
Answer: C
7. Plagiarism in journalism is:
A. Rewriting news
B. Using someone else’s work without credit
C. Editing content
D. Fact-checking sources
Answer: B
8. Which protects journalists from revealing confidential sources?
A. Shield laws
B. Libel laws
C. Copyright law
D. HIPAA
Answer: A
9. Defamation requires proof of:
A. Intent only