Journalism Basics 101
What are the 5Ws and 1H?
Who, what, when, where, why & how
What is an inverted pyramid? And what is the order?
A news writing structure - Most important information (lead) first, followed by supporting details, and then background information
What is the First Amendment?
It protects freedom of speech, press religion, assembly and petition in the U.S.
What makes a good photo for a news story?
It should be clear, relevant to the story, well composted and captures emotion or action
What is a journalist's role on social media?
To report accurate news, engage with the audience and maintain professionalism
What is the purpose of a lead in a news article?
To give the most important information first
What should a headline include?
Why is accuracy important in journalism?
Inaccurate reporting can mislead the public, damage credibility and cause harm
What is the rule of thirds in photography?
A composition guideline that divides an image into nine equal parts to create balance and interest
What does it mean to verify information online?
To check multiple reliable sources before sharing or reporting on a story
Name two types of journalism careers.
Broadcaster, reporter, photographer, social media, marketer, etc.
Give an example of a conflict of interest in reporting
A journalist writing about a company they own stock in without disclosing. A journalist writing about their personal business to promote it.
Why are captions important in photojournalism?
They provide context, explain the image and connect it to the story. Helps visualize it.
What is an algorithm? and how does it impact digital journalism?
An algorithm is a set of rules used by social media platforms to determine which content appears in users feed. It impacts journalism by influencing which stories reach certain audiences
What makes a source credible? Both an online source and a person.
Online: .org, .edu, .gov
In person: expert in topic, eyewitness, student/educator
What is the difference between hard news and soft news?
Hard news covers serious topics like politics, crime or major events. Soft news includes lifestyle, entertainment and human interest stories
What is the difference between libel and slander?
Libel is written defamation, while slander is spoken defamation.
What are the key elements of a newspaper layout?
Headlines, subheadings, bylines, columns, images, captions and white space
What are the key differences between traditional journalism and social media journalism?
Traditional journalism follows strict editorial guidelines, fact checking and professional ethics, which social media journalism allows for faster real-time reporting but can lead to misleading information
What is the difference between opinion and news reporting?
News reporting presents facts without bias, while opinion writing shared personal opinions or perspectives
Write a lead for this news story: A school fundraiser raised $10,000 for charity
Students and teachers at Athenian Academy raised an impressive $10,000 during their annual fundraiser supporting local charities in Clearwater Florida in the month of March.
What does defamation mean?
Ruining someones reputation
How does color theory impact newspaper and magazine design? Give an example of a color and meaning.
Color theory influences mood, readability and audience engagement. Red can create urgency or excitement.
What is media literacy?
Media literacy is the ability to analyze and evaluate news sources based on bias, misinformation and credibility. It helps people make informed decisions about information they consume.