Grammar & Style
Which sentence best follows news style while avoiding bias and unnecessary attribution?
A. According to officials, the policy will help students succeed.
B. Officials said the policy will help students succeed.
C. The policy will help students succeed, officials said.
D. Officials claim the policy will help students succeed.
Correct answer: B. Officials said the policy will help students succeed.
(Neutral verb, clear attribution, no evaluative language.)
Your front page feels overwhelming, even though all required elements are present. What is the first design problem you should diagnose?
A. Font inconsistency
B. Lack of visual hierarchy
C. Low image resolution
D. Color imbalance
B. Lack of visual hierarchy
(Hierarchy determines readability before aesthetics.)
A photographer captures a powerful image, but the subject did not realize they were being photographed. What is the most important factor in deciding whether to publish?
A. Photo quality
B. Audience reaction
C. Newsworthiness and public interest
D. Photographer’s intent
Correct answer: C. Newsworthiness and public interest
(Ethics weigh public interest over aesthetics.)
A breaking news story comes in while reporters are finishing feature stories. What is the best newsroom priority?
A. Finish features first to avoid wasted work
B. Assign the breaking story to a reporter immediately
C. Ignore the breaking story if it seems minor
D. Let reporters decide individually
B. Assign the breaking story to a reporter immediately
(Newsworthiness takes precedence over features.)
A student club announces a new volunteer project. You receive an email with some details, but some information is missing. What should you do first?
A. Publish what you have to be first
B. Contact the club for full details and verification
C. Guess the missing details based on previous projects
D. Wait until someone else reports on it
B. Contact the club for full details and verification
(Always verify before publishing, even for positive news.)
What is the primary issue in this sentence?
“Students who were interviewed by the newspaper said they were confused.”
A. Passive voice
B. Redundant attribution
C. Ambiguous subject
D. Misplaced modifier
Correct answer: B. Redundant attribution
(“By the newspaper” adds nothing and centers the outlet.)
A photo dominates the page but distracts from the main story. What is the best design solution?
A. Remove the photo
B. Reduce the photo’s size or contrast
C. Add another photo for balance
D. Move the story to another page
B. Reduce the photo’s size or contrast
(Design solves emphasis, not content.)
Which edit is always unacceptable in photojournalism?
A. Adjusting exposure evenly
B. Cropping for composition
C. Removing a distracting object digitally
D. Converting to black and white
Correct answer: C. Removing a distracting object digitally
(Alters reality.)
A reporter submits a draft with factual errors, but the story is scheduled for print in one hour. What is the best course of action?
A. Publish as is; correct online later
B. Hold the story until edits are complete
C. Print anyway and apologize publicly
D. Assign another reporter to rewrite
B. Hold the story until edits are complete
(Accuracy over speed.)
You are covering a campus cultural performance. Two performers give slightly different explanations of the same dance tradition. What is the best way to report it?
A. Choose the explanation that sounds most authentic
B. Present both explanations with attribution
C. Summarize without mentioning who said what
D. Ignore the differences and pick one
B. Present both explanations with attribution
(Attribution and transparency maintain accuracy and fairness.)
Which revision best improves clarity without changing legal or factual meaning?
“The decision was made by administrators following a series of meetings.”
A. Administrators made the decision after several meetings.
B. The decision followed several administrative meetings.
C. After meetings, a decision was made.
D. Administrators decided.
A. Administrators made the decision after several meetings.
(Restores agency while preserving facts.)
You must fit a long story into limited space without cutting facts. What design strategy best preserves readability?
A. Reduce font size below standard
B. Tighten leading and tracking slightly
C. Remove subheads
D. Justify text to save space
B. Tighten leading and tracking slightly
(Micro-typography adjustments before structural harm.)
A photo is technically strong but lacks context. What is the best journalistic fix?
A. Add a dramatic caption
B. Pair it with a secondary contextual photo
C. Crop tighter
D. Apply heavier contrast
B. Pair it with a secondary contextual photo
(Context solves meaning, not aesthetics.)
During a large campus event, multiple photographers are sending photos. Some images are unusable due to lighting or framing. What is the best way to manage this?
A. Pick the first usable image and run it
B. Ask photographers to reshoot where possible
C. Use stock images instead
D. Cancel photo coverage
B. Ask photographers to reshoot where possible
(Maximizes coverage quality without compromising ethics.)
A BYUH academic department sends a press release about a research project, but some terms are technical. What should you do as a reporter?
A. Publish the release as is
B. Simplify the technical terms while checking accuracy
C. Skip the technical parts entirely
D. Make up simple examples without verification
B. Simplify the technical terms while checking accuracy
(Accuracy and clarity for readers are both important.)
Which sentence violates news neutrality, even though it is grammatically correct?
A. The proposal passed after a 6–3 vote.
B. The proposal narrowly passed after debate.
C. The proposal passed after discussion among members.
D. The proposal passed Tuesday night.
B. The proposal narrowly passed after debate.
(“Narrowly” adds interpretation without sourcing.)
Readers are skipping a story even though it’s important. What design change most likely improves engagement?
A. Increase word count
B. Add a strong pull quote or subhead
C. Center-align the text
D. Remove white space
B. Add a strong pull quote or subhead
(Entry points guide scanning behavior.)
Which situation presents the greatest ethical risk?
A. Photographing a public protest
B. Photographing minors at a public event
C. Photographing a grieving individual during breaking news
D. Photographing a speaker at a press conference
C. Photographing a grieving individual during breaking news
(Requires heightened harm-minimization.)
A controversial story about student conduct is ready to publish, but the administration asks for changes. How should the editor respond?
A. Comply to maintain good relations
B. Refuse outright
C. Review the request, verify facts, and maintain editorial independence
D. Delay indefinitely
C. Review the request, verify facts, and maintain editorial independence
(Balance verification, independence, and diplomacy.)
During a campus sports event, you notice the official scoreboard seems inconsistent with what you observe. How should you handle it?
A. Report the score you saw personally
B. Use the official scoreboard and verify with the coaches if needed
C. Don’t report the score
D. Average the two scores
B. Use the official scoreboard and verify with the coaches if needed
(Always rely on official sources but verify if there’s doubt.)
Which edit best resolves both clarity and ethical concerns?
Original:
“Many students were outraged by the administration’s shocking decision.”
A. Students were outraged by the administration’s shocking decision.
B. Many students expressed outrage over the administration’s decision.
C. Some students said they were upset by the administration’s decision.
D. Students reacted negatively to the administration’s decision.
C. Some students said they were upset by the administration’s decision.
(Quantifier + attribution + neutral language.)
A story includes sensitive content and emotional photos. What is the most ethical design decision?
A. Use the most dramatic image available
B. Place images above the fold
C. Use restrained imagery with clear captions
D. Omit captions to avoid bias
C. Use restrained imagery with clear captions
(Design carries ethical weight, not just aesthetics.)
A photo accurately depicts a moment but may reinforce harmful stereotypes. What is the most responsible editorial decision?
A. Publish it because it’s accurate
B. Reject it entirely
C. Publish with careful framing and explanatory caption
D. Replace it with a stock image
C. Publish with careful framing and explanatory caption
(Accuracy + context + responsibility.)
A sudden campus crisis occurs: an accident involving multiple students. You have incomplete information. What’s the best reporting strategy?
A. Publish immediately with initial reports
B. Wait until all details are verified before reporting
C. Publish what is known, clearly attributing all sources
D. Refrain from reporting to avoid liability
C. Publish what is known, clearly attributing all sources
(Transparency + verification; keep readers informed responsibly.)
You’re covering BYUH’s annual Culture Night, which features many performances and speakers. How should you organize your story to ensure clarity and accuracy?
A. Write chronologically, mentioning each act in order
B. Focus only on the most exciting performances
C. Group performances by theme and verify details for each act
D. Summarize all acts in a single paragraph
C. Group performances by theme and verify details for each act
(Organization, clarity, and verification help readers understand the story.)