CATEGORY 1
This question from a college student triggers Will McAvoy’s viral rant.
A. “Is the media biased?”
B. “Why is America the greatest country in the world?”
C. “Should news be neutral?”
D. “Is journalism dying?”
B. “Why is America the greatest country in the world?”
The first major news story tackled by the new News Night team.
A. The Arab Spring
B. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill
C. The financial crisis
D. The Tea Party movement
B. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Maggie Jordan’s position at the start of Season 1.
A. Intern
B. Associate producer
C. Senior producer
D. Research assistant
B. Associate producer
What immediate change occurs on News Night after MacKenzie takes over as executive producer?
A. The show switches to live-only broadcasts
B. Guests are pre-approved by management
C. Scripts are rewritten closer to airtime
D. Stories are required to be fully sourced before airtime
D. Stories are required to be fully sourced before airtime
Why does MacKenzie initially keep parts of her plan for News Night secret?
A. She fears legal consequences
B. She expects resistance from staff
C. She is following corporate orders
D. She is unsure of Will’s commitment
B. She expects resistance from staff
What decision does Charlie Skinner make immediately after Will’s speech?
A. He suspends Will
B. He cancels News Night
C. He brings MacKenzie McHale back
D. He replaces the production team
C. He brings MacKenzie McHale back
Why does the team hesitate before airing the true scale of the disaster?
A. No video footage
B. Government denial
C. Unverified information
D. Legal threats
C. Unverified information
What false rumor spreads about Maggie early in the season?
A. She leaked a story
B. She had a romantic relationship with Will McAvoy
C. She falsified sources
D. She sabotaged a broadcast
B. She had a romantic relationship with Will McAvoy
What action by Will signals to the staff that the old rules of the show no longer apply?
A. He fires Don Keefer
B. He openly challenges a guest on air
C. He refuses to read a softened script
D. He changes the broadcast format
C. He refuses to read a softened script
What mistake leads to Maggie being removed from her producer role earlier in the season?
A. Ignoring sourcing rules
B. Misunderstanding technical data
C. Failing to manage professional boundaries
D. Missing a breaking story
C. Failing to manage professional boundaries
Why does Will initially refuse to work with MacKenzie again?
A. She leaked a story
B. She publicly criticized him
C. She cheated on him in the past
D. She works for a rival network
C. She cheated on him in the past
How does Neal help confirm the severity of the oil spill?
A. Leaking internal BP emails
B. Interviewing eyewitnesses
C. Tracking ship movements using public data
D. Obtaining classified documents
C. Tracking ship movements using public data
Which relationship creates tension between Maggie and Jim?
A. Maggie and Will
B. Maggie and Charlie
C. Maggie and Don
D. Maggie and Neal
C. Maggie and Don
What causes tension between the new and old members of the production team in early episodes?
A. Differences in political views
B. Conflicting personal relationships
C. Disagreement over journalistic standards
D. Competition for promotions
C. Disagreement over journalistic standards
What role does Neal most often play during newsroom crises in Episodes 1–7?
A. Mediator between staff
B. Source of real-time data and online information
C. Legal advisor
D. On-air commentator
B. Source of real-time data and online information
How was Will known professionally before the pilot episode?
A. Aggressive and partisan
B. Fearless investigative journalist
C. Neutral and broadly likable
D. A political activist
C. Neutral and broadly likable
Which newsroom rule allows the story to air responsibly?
A. Two independent sources
B. Corporate permission
C. Legal department approval
D. On-air disclosure
A. Two independent sources
Jim Harper is consistently portrayed as:
A. Politically ambitious
B. Emotionally impulsive
C. Ethically rigid and fact-driven
D. Ratings-focused
C. Ethically rigid and fact-driven
Why does the newsroom staff often work against the clock in Episodes 1–7?
A. Corporate deadlines
B. Technical limitations
C. Ongoing verification of information
D. Staff shortages
C. Ongoing verification of information
Why does Jim repeatedly clash with other producers during breaking news coverage?
A. He prioritizes political balance
B. He insists on strict verification
C. He resists new technology
D. He wants more airtime
B. He insists on strict verification
Which phrase signals Will’s decision to change how News Night operates?
A. “We’re starting over”
B. “This ends now”
C. “No more compromise”
D. “We just decided to”
D. “We just decided to”
What consequence does MacKenzie face after the oil spill broadcast?
A. She is fired
B. She is demoted
C. She receives a formal reprimand
D. She resigns
C. She receives a formal reprimand
Maggie’s main professional weakness in Season 1 is:
A. Lack of intelligence
B. Poor research skills
C. Emotional involvement affecting judgment
D. Political bias
C. Emotional involvement affecting judgment
Which consequence most clearly shows that the new editorial approach carries professional risk?
A. Public criticism from politicians
B. Increased workload for producers
C. Internal division within the newsroom
D. Threats to Will’s position as anchor
D. Threats to Will’s position as anchor
Across Episodes 1–7, what narrative pattern best defines the newsroom’s development?
A. Gradual return to ratings-driven news
B. Increasing dependence on digital media
C. Repeated conflict between speed and accuracy
D. Shift toward opinion-based journalism
C. Repeated conflict between speed and accuracy