Deck 8: Who Gets the Spotlight

Question 1

The convention of authoritative sources refers to the idea that reporters tend to interview authors of books, rather than read the books themselves.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

A rule of thumb when you're working on a story about a contentious issue is to confirm facts with at least one source.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Reporting diversity means that accuracy demands that over the course of time in your reporting, you interview a range of sources who approximate the range of views and backgrounds in your community.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

When journalists use anonymous sources, readers can't verify the information for themselves, and sources don't have to stand behind their words.

Question 5

Which of the following are points that media theorist Leon Sigal makes about the kinds of sources journalists tend to choose?

A) Ordinary people appear in the news infrequently, compared to public officials or celebrities.
B) The people who show up in the news media are there because they are news sources, and who sources are depends on how reporters gather news.
C) News is often reported in terms of personalities, rather than abstract issues.
D) All of the above

Question 6

If you have trouble reaching a key source for a news story before deadline, what should you do?

A) If you only have a few hours to gather information and allow a source to respond, you may need to hold the story if you can't reach that source.
B) When time runs out and you are unable to reach a source, it's appropriate to submit a story noting that fact, as long as you make it clear that the source was not actively avoiding you.
C) Both of the above
D) None of the above

Question 7

Which of the following is true about the Supreme Court Case, Branzburg v. Hayes?

A) It ruled that the First Amendment does not give a journalist the right to refuse to appear before a grand jury.
B) It ruled that the First Amendment does not give a journalist the right to refuse to answer the grand jury's questions about the identity of a source.
C) Both of the above
D) None of the above

Question 8

When journalists use social media to contact sources, they should follow best practices by asking themselves which of the following questions?

A) Is the source who she says she is? Does she really have the credentials she says she does?
B) Does the source have the authority to speak on the particular issue you're covering?
C) Is the information accurate?
D) All of the above

Question 9

Why is it important to confirm facts with more than one source?

Question 10

What does it mean to "report diversity"?

Question 11

What is one major concern with interviewing only expert sources for a story?

Question 12

Please a.) describe two ways that journalists can use social media in their reporting and b.) describe one caution that journalists should keep in mind as they do.

Question 13

You're thinking about sources for a story about local emergency drills for first responders being held at your school. Please a.) describe three lessons you'd keep in mind as you brainstormed and b.) describe how you'd apply those lessons as you went about selecting your sources.

Question 14

Regarding anonymous sources, please a.) identify two major concerns about using them, b.) identify two best practices in journalism that address each concern and c.) explain why the best practices address each concern.