Deck 6: News Writing Style

Question 1

"Best," "most useful" and "greatest" are examples of __.

A) future verb tense
B) objective superlative
C) progressive verb form
D) simple verb tense
E) subjective superlative

Answer 1

subjective superlative

Question 2

"She said" is an example of a/an __.

A) attribution link
B) paraphrase
C) quote
D) speech tag

Answer 2

speech tag

Question 3

The best protection against a charge of invasion of privacy is __.

A) consent
B) fair comment
C) privilege
D) statute of limitation
E) truth

Answer 3

consent

Question 4

Gathering information by secretly taping a telephone conversation is an invasion of privacy based on the principle of __.

A) fair comment
B) intrusion
C) misappropriation
D) private facts
E) privilege

Question 5

Words and phrases that the courts have ruled likely to be defamatory are called __.

A) defamation per se
B) falsifications
C) libelous intent
D) odious labels
E) slander aforethought

Question 6

News releases about advance registration for upcoming events often are not used because they lack balance.

Question 7

Short, simple words and short sentences are characteristics of good public relations news writing.

Question 8

Attribution of quotes may be to organizations as well as to people.

Question 9

Journalists should write with objectivity, but public relations writers preparing news releases are not expected to follow this practice.

Question 10

The term "libel" refers to oral and written defamation.

Question 11

John writes a note to his co-worker Mary, indicating that he has heard that she has sold illegal drugs. The accusation is untrue. Mary reads the note and then locks it in her safe-deposit box without showing it to anyone. The note is the basis for a libel charge.

Question 12

John writes this note to Mary and sends it to her over the office email system. He is not aware that all office mail is automatically copied to their boss. The note is the basis for a libel charge.

Question 13

Using the word "alleged" with defamatory statements protects the writer from libel charges.

Question 14

Explain why a public relations writer should be aware of libel.