Chapter 11 Multiple Choice Self-Quiz

. A major disadvantage to email interviews is that

the reporter can't see the source's facial expression and body language or hear his vocal inflections.

the source can respond with long, thoughtful answers.

many sources are less accessible through email than over the phone.

the reporter has an exact record of what the source said.

. Interviews conducted by broadcast reporters differ from those conducted by print reporters because

the broadcast interview should always make the subject of the story look good.

the broadcast interview should never go into as much depth as a print interview.

the broadcast interview is just part of the story, not the entire story.

the broadcast interview is the story, not just part of the story.

. Which of the following is NOT among the generally accepted ways of getting an interview subject to answer a difficult or embarrassing question?

Sugar-coat the Question 0by asking it in a less direct fashion.

Ask interviewees what their supporters or critics might say about them.

Threaten to turn your information over to police or prosecuting attorneys.

Attribute the point of view implied in the Question 0to a third party.

. In regard to taking notes and recording interviews, most reporters recommend

relying on one's memory rather than bothering with notes or recordings.

recording the interview on tape or digitally and dispensing with note taking.

taking notes of names, dates and amounts but relying on memory for direct quotations.

taking detailed notes and recording the interview on tape or digitally.

. Telephone interviews are best for

talking to a person who is the target of an investigative story.

conducting a long interview on a complicated topic.

getting a few pieces of information quickly from a source.

getting information from the subject of an in-depth personality profile.

. A good way to get a reluctant source to speak is for the reporter to

try to discover the reason for the source's anxiety and try to overcome it.

threaten the source with embarrassment if she or he fails to respond.

insist on the public's right to know whatever information the source has.

trick the source into thinking the interview is about a completely innocuous topic.

. One way of organizing questions for an interview is called the funnel, which arranges questions

from the most general to the most specific.

from the most personal to the most impersonal.

from the most impersonal to the most personal.

from the most specific to the most general.

. When asking questions of interview subjects, reporters often

read questions verbatim from a prepared list.

organize their questions by topic to make it easier for the interview to move from one topic to the next.

try to think up their questions during the interview so as to encourage spontaneity.

randomize their questions so that the source will never know what will be asked next.

. The best location for interviewing a source is

in a restaurant.

in a place where there is lots of background noise.

in the reporter's newsroom.

in the person's home or office.

. Which of the following is NOT one of characteristics of a good question to ask during an interview?

The question is likely to elicit an anecdote.

The question encourages the subject to respond with a "yes" or "no."

The question starts a subject talking about her or his experiences.

The question encourages the source to provide details.

. Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons reporters should perform background research before they interview a source?

They will not embarrass themselves by appearing to the source to be ignorant of the topic.

Sometimes they can write the story without having to waste time on an interview.

They are more likely to have documented all relevant facts.

They will not waste time by asking about issues that have already been widely publicized.

. In deciding how many sources are enough for a particular story, the reporter must take into account these four factors:

the complexity of the story, the ignorance of the readers, the minimum required by the editor and the degree of controversy raised by the topic.

deadline pressures, the complexity of the story, the minimum required by the editor and the interest of the reader.

deadline pressures, the expertise of the sources, the degree of controversy raised by a topic and the complexity of the topic.

the expertise of the sources, the probable apathy of most readers, the complexity of the story and the reporter's own boredom with the topic.

. In seeking the best available source to interview for a news story, the reporter primarily is looking for a person who

has a knack for saying things that are controversial.

will look good on video or in a photograph.

knows enough about a topic to bluff his or her way through an interview.

has relevant expertise or experience and is articulate.

. Which of the following is NOT part of the planning process for interviews?

Defining the purpose of the interview.

Anticipating possible answers to questions.

Devising ways to trick the interview subject.

Identifying areas of inquiry.

. When interviewing for a personality profile or other feature, reporters often

conduct their interviews over the telephone.

avoid visiting the subject so as not to prejudice their views of that person.

complete their interviews in 30 minutes or less.

spend many hours with the subject of the profile.

. Which of the follow sets of information must a reporter conducting interviews for a news story about a crime or city council action discover?

Facts and details, including dates, names, locations and costs.

Relationships among the people or interests involved.

Anecdotes that illuminate events or issues and make them more dramatic and understandable for readers or viewers.

All of the others

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