Filak, Dynamics of Media Writing, 2e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
Chapter 5: Interviewing
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. When it comes to a professional interview, ______ is essential.
A. preparation
B. patience
C. charisma
D. focus
2. Most ______ have their archives digitized, making them easy to access online.
A. trade journals
B. newspapers
C. newsletters
D. businesses
3. Many companies provide miniature ______ on their staff members, especially those
in the upper echelon of the organization.
A. articles
B. newspapers
C. biographies
D. newsletters
Filak, Dynamics of Media Writing, 2e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
4. In some cases, you can find information on a person in a ______, instead of in
mainstream newspapers or magazines.
A. transcript
B. newsletter
C. websites
D. trade press
5. Your source will likely have some presence on ______.
A. social media
B. broadcast media
C. newspapers
D. trade journals
6. According to your text, one of the best places to get information about an interview
subject is from ______.
A. gossip blogs
B. other people who know your source
C. ex-partners
D. surveys
7. The ______ of an interview will dictate what tone you take with your subject, how
much time you will need with your source, and what types of questions you will prepare.
A. length
B. deadline
C. purpose
D. character
8. In approaching a source, either by phone, in person, or through some other means,
make sure you display ______.
A. your teeth
B. your tattoos
C. your muscles
D. proper manners
9. Once you get through to the source, ______.
A. introduce yourself and explain your purpose
B. begin asking questions immediately
C. thank them for their time and ask them if you can call them again
D. say nothing for a few minutes
10. You need to impress upon your sources that ______.
A. they are your favorite subject
B. they have important information and that your readers need to know it
C. you don’t care who they are
D. you are objective
11. When it comes to meeting a source, first determine ______.
A. how far they are from your office
B. how much you will be reimbursed for travel expenses
Filak, Dynamics of Media Writing, 2e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
C. what you hope to accomplish and what you want to know about that person
D. how nice their offices are
12. Conducting the interview at your subject’s home base is recommended because it
can keep them more relaxed and ______.
A. allow them to dress the way they want
B. prevent coworkers from eavesdropping
C. keep expenses down
D. allow you to do some observing
13. When you start your interview, it is best to ______.
A. be conservative in your tone and professional in your approach
B. be as casual as possible right away
C. pay no attention to courtesy titles
D. refer to them by nickname
14. Now, the average ______ can capture reasonably decent video if you record in an
optimal setting.
A. joe
B. smartphone
C. video technician
D. reporter
15. The more important the person, ______.
A. the less likely people will pay attention
B. the more likely people will ignore it
C. the more likely people will pay attention
D. the less likely people will understand
16. When you need quick information from a source that is notoriously hard to reach,
______.
A. a simple exchange of e-mails, texts, tweets, or other digital contacts can make your
life a lot easier
B. you should look for another source
C. a phone interview is the best choice
D. stop everything until you can meet them in person
17. One other great element of e-mail interviews is that ______.
A. it is easy to provide follow-up questions
B. you have a complete digital transcript of what the person wanted to say on the topic
C. you can easily observe the source’s body language
D. you can easily gain information from the source’s tone of voice
18. The average smartphone ______.
A. is not useful at all in an interview situation
B. needs to be supplemented with more traditional video equipment
C. can capture reasonably decent video if you record in an optimal setting
D. is appropriate for audio but good at recording video
19. The rules for recording interviews ______.
A. are the same for all states
B. are not important
C. have little to do with journalism
D. will vary on your state, your approach, and your area of the field
20. Before you start the interview, ask the source if ______.
A. they are familiar with your work
B. they like your outfit
C. they can hear you
D. you can record it
21. If a source says you can’t record the interview, ______.
A. explain that you want to record the material to make sure you get things right
B. tell them you’re going to do it anyway
C. record it without telling them
D. don’t record it
22. Some pieces of an interview will do better as ______copy, because the information
is tight, short, and easy to follow.
A. audio or video
B. text
Filak, Dynamics of Media Writing, 2e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
C. script
D. ad
23. Anecdotes, explanations, or emotional tales might be more valuable in ______.
A. script form
B. text form
C. an audio or video format
D. teleprompter form
24. Consider what you plan to do with the material you gather ______ you start your
interview.
A. 2 weeks
B. during
C. after
D. before
25. ______ questions are meant to gather specific information that can help you nail
down facts or clarify specific things within an interview.
A. Closed-ended
B. Open-ended
C. Leading
D. Loaded
26. “Did you approve the plan?” is an example of a(n) ______ question.
A. open-ended
B. closed-ended
C. leading
D. loaded
27. “How can people who don’t understand computers take part in this event?” is an
example of a(n) ______ question.
A. open-ended
B. closed-ended
C. leading
D. loaded
1. When it comes to a professional interview, preparation is not essential.
2. Most papers have their archives digitized, making them easy to access online.
3. It’s rare to find biographies of staff members on an organization’s website.
4. In some cases, a person is a big deal in a trade or field but hasn’t gotten a lot of
attention in mainstream newspapers or magazines.
5. Your source will most likely not have a presence on social media sites such as
Twitter and Facebook.
6. One of the best places to get information about an interview subject is from other
people who know your source.
7. Most interviews start with a simple phone call and end just as easily 5 min later.
8. The purpose of an interview is not related to what types of questions you will prepare.
9. In approaching a source, either by phone, in person, or through some other means,
make sure you are as informal as possible.
10. When it comes to meeting a source, first determine what you hope to accomplish
and what you want to know about that person.
12. When you start your interview, it is best to be laidback in your approach.
13. When you need quick information from a source that is notoriously hard to reach, a
simple exchange of e-mails, texts, tweets, or other digital contacts can make your life a
lot easier.
14. When a source has time to create a message, that message will most likely be just
as genuine as an initial response given during a live interview.
1. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of interviewing via e-mail or
text?
2. What is the difference between open-ended and closed-ended questions?
3. How can silence help during an interview?
4. How can you ask questions without using words?
5. How can you successfully end an interview?
1. How can you prepare for an interview?
2. How can you work toward getting an interview and gaining the trust of your source?
3. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of doing an interview via e-mail
or text?
4. How can you do effective interviewing for multimedia?
5. What is the best way to prepare interview questions?
