Journalism - Marking Period Assessment (First Six Weeks)

When writing an article for the school newspaper, it is crucial to double-check sources, names, and facts to maintain your reputation as a student writer. By doing so, you ensure that the information presented in the article is accurate and reliable. This helps to establish trust with the readers and enhances your credibility as a writer. Failing to double-check these details can lead to inaccuracies in the article, which can damage your reputation and credibility as a student writer. Therefore, it is indeed true that double-checking sources, names, and facts is important when writing for the school newspaper.

The statement suggests that the timeliness of an event plays a significant role in determining its news value. This is because recent events are more likely to be of interest to the audience as they are considered more relevant and current. News organizations prioritize reporting on recent events as it helps to keep the audience informed about the latest developments and trends. Therefore, the more recently an event occurred, the greater its news value.

The statement suggests that news events that have a significant impact on a large number of people are the ones that have the most consequence. This implies that the magnitude of the impact is directly proportional to the number of people affected. Therefore, the correct answer is true, indicating that news events with a broader reach have a greater overall impact.

Human interest articles are specifically designed to engage and involve the reader by evoking various emotions such as joy, hatred, sorrow, understanding, or sympathy. These articles often focus on personal stories, experiences, or events that are relatable and elicit a strong emotional response from the reader. Therefore, the statement that human interest articles report occurrences that involve the reader by generating feelings is true.

Disruptive actions tend to attract attention and can often lead to conflict. When someone engages in a disruptive behavior, it stands out and grabs people's attention, which can create a reaction or response from others. This can cause conflict as people may have different opinions or reactions to the disruptive action. Therefore, it is likely that the more disruptive an action is, the more attention it will receive and the higher the chances of causing conflict.

When writing an article for the school newspaper, it is important to consider whether or not the article might be offensive to certain groups of people. This is because articles that are offensive can create a negative environment and hurt the feelings of individuals belonging to those groups. Considering the potential impact of the article on different groups allows for more inclusive and respectful writing, promoting a positive and inclusive school community.

Choosing to cover a story means giving it attention and bringing it to life through reporting or writing about it. By choosing not to cover a story, you are essentially choosing not to give it life or attention. Therefore, the statement "When choosing whether to cover a story, you are choosing whether to give that topic life - or NOT to (by not writing the story)" is true.

The statement is not necessarily true. The news value of a story is not solely determined by the distance from home. There are various factors that contribute to the news value, such as the significance of the event, the impact it has on people, and the level of public interest. While distance can sometimes add to the news value, it is not always the case. Stories that happen closer to home can also be highly newsworthy depending on the circumstances. Therefore, the statement is false.

The statement "A 'pillar of free press' is that it is not proper to question and criticize the government" is false. A pillar of free press is the ability to question and criticize the government without fear of censorship or punishment. Free press plays a crucial role in holding the government accountable and ensuring transparency in a democratic society.

The news element that best describes this story is "prominence." This is because the story focuses on President Trump, who is a prominent figure in politics. His visit to the school and speaking at an assembly is newsworthy because of his status and the attention it brings.

The given story about requiring students to take wellness and nutrition classes in order to graduate has a clear impact on the students and the county. This decision will directly affect the students' education and their future health. It also addresses the rising issue of nutrition-related illnesses in the county, indicating a significant impact on the community's well-being. Therefore, the news element that best describes this story is "Impact."

The statement suggests that a prominent person is newsworthy because most people don't recognize their name. However, this is not necessarily true. A person can be prominent and newsworthy for various reasons, such as their accomplishments, influence, or impact on society, regardless of whether or not their name is recognized by the general public. Therefore, the correct answer is False.

The inverted pyramid form of writing is a technique commonly used in journalism where the most important information is presented at the beginning of the story, followed by supporting details and background information. This approach allows readers to quickly grasp the key points of the story, even if they only read the first few paragraphs. By prioritizing the most important information, journalists ensure that readers are informed even if they don't read the entire article. This method is especially useful in news writing where time and space limitations may require concise and efficient communication of information.

This statement is incorrect. Reporters should strive to remain objective and make fair, neutral observations about people and events. Objectivity is a fundamental principle of journalism, as it ensures that news is presented without bias or personal opinion. By remaining objective, reporters can provide accurate and balanced information to the public, allowing individuals to form their own opinions based on the facts presented.

The given story describes a conflict between the vandals and the football field owners. The act of vandalizing the football fields by spray-painting obscene words and spreading grass killer creates a conflict between the two parties involved. The mention of Waxahachie-Finley students as the new suspects further emphasizes the conflict aspect of the story.

Proximity best describes this story because it refers to the geographical or local relevance of a news story. In this case, the story is about a school-wide fundraiser at a high school in another state, which is not geographically close or relevant to the audience. Therefore, the element of proximity is the most suitable to describe this story.

The story of a teacher who has taken in over 200 foster children over several decades is best described as a human interest story. Human interest stories focus on the emotional and personal aspects of individuals or groups, often highlighting their unique experiences or actions. In this case, the teacher's selflessness and dedication to helping foster children is likely to evoke empathy and interest from readers, making it a compelling human interest story.

The explanation for the answer "False" is that the statement suggests that people in the business world, particularly in journalism, tend to have poor morals in their personal lives but practice good ethics at work to avoid being fired. However, this statement is a generalization and cannot be applied to all individuals. While some people may exhibit this behavior, it is not accurate to say that it is common or representative of everyone in the business world or journalism.

The news element that best describes this story is proximity. Proximity refers to the geographical or physical closeness of a news event to the audience. In this case, the story is about the city of Red Oak getting a new entertainment center, which directly affects the local audience and community. The news is relevant to the people living in Red Oak and is of interest to them due to its close proximity.

The correct answer options are:
- Do you have solid proof of cheating?
- Do you risk exploiting certain students?
- Will the article be harmful to anyone mentioned?

These options should be considered when writing an article on cheating among students because having solid proof of cheating is essential to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the information presented. Additionally, it is important to consider the potential harm that the article may cause to the students mentioned, as well as the ethical implications of exploiting certain students for personal gain or to enhance one's own image.