Chapter 02 True/False Self-Quiz

. No single definition of newsworthiness acknowledges all of the factors affecting the selection process.

. Journalists agree that news stories possess certain characteristics or values.

. Radio, TV and the Web are ideal media for publishing the latest information while newspapers and magazines often give new, in-depth information with added content.

. Routine events can become newsworthy when they involve prominent individuals, such as state senators, business leaders or celebrities.

. Proximity may be geographic or psychological.

. The media tend not to report on the unusual because doing so would give their audiences a distorted view of the world.

. Conflict can be positive.

. Reporters try to avoid humorous stories.

. Television news broadcasters favor complicated stories that are informative over less complicated stories, even if the complicated stories are difficult to illustrate.

. A news organization's size and the community it serves should not affect the selection of news.

. Journalists sometimes call hard news "spot news," or "straight news" or "breaking news."

. "Soft news" entertains audiences but does not inform them.

. Soft news is often less timely than breaking news so editors can delay soft stories to make room for more timely stories.

. If an idea for a story is a poor one, the story can be salvaged by solid reporting.

. If a journalist notices inconsistencies or inaccuracies in sources' statements, it is the journalist's duty to call them liars so the readers are not misinformed.

. Reporters must be aware of the different neighborhoods of their communities because people in different neighborhoods may have different experiences and opinions regarding issues.

. Most news organizations avoid sensationalism, but not sensational stories.

. Trade names should always be used in stories because they add to the detail of a story.

. Editors, instructors and the public are particularly critical of errors in facts because there is rarely any excuse for them, but are not critical about simple errors such as misspelling because they recognize that everyone makes mistakes sometimes.

. The information appearing in professional news media is not as accurate as most Americans believe.

. Reporters are vulnerable to misinformation because many people want to get their views publicized.

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