Name:_________________________________________ Date:___________________

Journalism Midterm Study Guide

Chapter One

Looking Back: The History of American Media

1. The first American newspapers were often how many sheets long? _______________

2. Along with material borrowed from whatever source an editor could find, what did journalists include
in early newspapers? ________________ & ___________________

3. Which court case established "truth" as a defense against libel charges?

____________________________

4. Which amendment guarantees freedom of speech and press? ______________________

5. What pays the cost of producing newspapers and getting newscasts on the air?
____________________________

6. Reporters at Civil War battle sites made use of the ________________________ to transmit their
stories.

7. The end of yellow journalism ushered in a period during which American newspapers developed a
significant ___________________ ______________________.

8. Dr. Lee De Forest made improvements in the __________________ ________________ that made it
possible for the new medium of radio.

9. The first ________________________ newscast took place in the late 1940s.

10. The ________________________ was the last great media advance of the 20th century.

On a separate sheet of paper, define the following key terms from chapter one:

Partisan press, penny press, wire service, yellow journalism, muckracking, shock jock, global village, &
computer-assisted reporting.
Chapter Two

Meeting Ethical & Legal Responsibilities

1. The _____________________ function describes the obligation to cover in detail the activities of the
government.

2. The _____________________ function states the press must report not only what is happening today,
but also what is likely to happen tomorrow.

3. Today the mass media performs the _______________________ function by getting people to discuss
their world.

4. The ___________________________________ function states that the mass media should reflect an
accurate record of local, national, and world news.

5. The ___________________________________ function reflects the idea that the media has the
power to determine what we talk about as individuals and address as a nation.

6. The _____________________________ function states that consumers needdiversion as well as

information.

7. The public needs information about products, goods, and services according to the
___________________________ function.

8. The _________________________ function explains how the press provides a forum in which all sorts
of ideas are presented.

9. ____________________ & _____________________ are perhaps the two most imprtant ethical
principles journalists try to live by.

On a separate sheet of paper, define the following key terms from chapter two:

Ethics, composite characters, credibility, libel, prior restraint, objectivity, right of reply, plagiarism,
slander, privileged statements, fair comment, in loco parentis, & forum theory
Chapter Three

Deciding What Is News

1. A quick shortcut to news judgment can be found in the "____________ _____________" method.

2. Some of the most interesting news stories are based on the results of ________________.

On a separate sheet of paper, define the following key terms from chapter three:

News judgment, advance, timeliness, proximity, prominence, consequence, localization, human-interest

story, conflict, brainstorming, random sample, & filter question.

Chapter Four

Organizing the Staff to Capture the News

1. Journalists now have _______________________ resources available to them, yet

___________________ sources available to their readers.

2. For the most part, audiences today do not read __________________ stories.

3. Commercial newspapers receive a considerable amount of their news from _________________

_____________________.

4. Many ideas for news stories come in the form of __________________.

5. _____________________ are the eyes and ears of the news staff, but they cannot do the job alone.

On a separate sheet of paper, define the following key terms from chapter four:

Publisher, managing editor, beat reporter, general assignment reporter, jump, WED, maestro, mainbar,
sidebar, future book.
Chapter Five

Making the Interview Work

1. Prepare your questions ____________________ the interview; which often requires doing some
research.

2. If you want to make the reader "see" your subject, look for quotes that convey the subject's
________________________.

3. Try to develop an atmosphere of ___________________.

4. The purpose of prepublication checking is to ensure _____________________ of information.

On a separate sheet of paper, define the following key terms from chapter five:

Primary Source, open-ended question, -est question, stock question, formal interview, off the record, Q
and A.

Use the complete study guide (chapters 1-5) to prepare for your midterm exam this weekend. This
includes ALL key terms and definitions. The exam is worth 20% of your grade for the second quarter;
meaning it is one of the biggest and last opportunities you will have to bring your grade up.
Remember you can not fail 2 quarters and still receive credit for taking this class. I have given you all
the tools you need to succeed. Should you have any questions, feel free to email me. Good luck!

- Ms. Cooke