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Instructor Resource
Filak, Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
Chapter 10: Collecting Audio and Visuals in the Field
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. In the world of audio and video journalism, which of the following is most important?
A. having well-connected sources
B. having the most expensive gear
C. having the most social media followers
D. being a good journalist
2. What is the primary journalistic purpose of a microphone?
A. to amplify your voice when looking for people willing to provide soundbites
B. to collect sound for use in storytelling
C. to communicate with producers while out looking for stories
D. to remotely listen in on important meetings or events
3. The type of microphone that is included with most audio and video devices is known as a ______
microphone.
A. stick
B. boom
C. built-in
D. lavalier
4. What is the primary benefit of a built-in microphone?
A. high audio quality
B. long range
C. easy to remember
D. limits background noise
5. Which microphone type typically has the worst quality and smallest range?
A. built-in
B. stick
C. lavalier
D. boom
6. The traditional handheld microphone with the caged ball at the end is known as the ______
microphone.
A. boom
B. lavalier
C. stick
D. built-in
7. Which microphone type is most often used for recording the reporter’s track?
A. built-in
B. stick
C. lavalier
D. boom
8. How does a reporter typically carry a lavalier microphone?
A. built in to the recording device
B. at the end of a long pole
C. attached to eyeglasses or sunglasses
D. clipped to a tie or lapel
9. Audio that contains the sound of the reporter’s clothes ruffling was most likely recorded with a ______
microphone.
A. built-in
B. stick
C. lavalier
D. boom
10. Which of the following is a common nickname for the boom microphone?
A. airborne mic
B. shotgun mic
C. dangle mic
D. hover mic
11. Which type of microphone is best for gathering audio from a distance?
A. built-in
B. stick
C. lavalier
D. boom
12. When operating a boom microphone, it is especially important to ensure that ______.
A. the microphone remains pointed at the sound source
B. your clothing is not covering the aperture
C. the microphone is not collecting too much background noise
D. you are within arm’s length of the sound source
13. How much audio content can be captured by a typical digital audio recorder?
A. 1–2 hr
B. around 24 hr
C. up to 50 hr
D. hundreds of hours
14. Which of the following video camera types allows reporters to capture high-quality video and get back
out into the field quickly after the recording media becomes full?
A. internal hard drive
Instructor Resource
Filak, Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
B. reel-to-reel
C. removable digital media
D. video cassette
15. It is especially important to choose a video recording device that allows you to plug in an external
microphone when you ______.
A. want to record and edit broadcast packages
B. value convenience over quality
C. plan to upload the raw footage directly to the web
D. want to capture video for research purposes only
16. What is the standard input format for external microphones?
A. USB
B. XLR
C. RCA
D. mini-jack
17. What is the simplest digital camera available?
A. mobile phone
B. compact
C. mirrorless
D. digital single-lens reflex (DSLR)
18. Which of the following is a common drawback to cameras with a digital zoom?
A. less storage space
B. more expensive
C. image distortion
D. difficult to use
19. Which type of camera often features a single body and interchangeable lenses?
A. compact
B. disposable
C. mobile phone
D. digital single-lens reflex (DSLR)
20. What is the purpose of collecting ambient sound?
A. to fill time between stories
B. to help set the scene for viewers
C. to give video editors a baseline for quiet sounds
D. to make sure the equipment is functioning properly
21. What is the purpose of b-roll footage?
A. to communicate information not contained in the script
B. to give reporters cues for when to start speaking
C. to smooth the transition between stories
D. to reinforce what the reporter is talking about
22. Which type of shot is best for capturing a lot of action at once?
A. close-up
B. medium shot
C. long shot
D. snapshot
23. What role does a long (or wide) shot typically play in a package?
A. placing viewers at the scene of a story
B. framing the action of key individuals
C. providing a detailed view of a small piece of action
D. directing viewers to other platforms for more information
24. Which type of shot is best used during an interview?
A. long shot
B. medium shot
C. close-up
D. b-roll
25. The type of shot that most resembles the way in which people normally view the world is the ______
shot.
A. close-up
B. wide
C. pinhole
D. medium
26. What is the most important aspect of an on-screen interview?
A. using a wide shot to create an interesting visual scene
B. making sure the audience can clearly hear what the speaker says
C. capturing engaging background noises
D. having absolute silence in the background
27. When is it most appropriate to interview someone away from his or her natural environment?
A. when the person demands to be interviewed in a more flattering location
B. when the environment is too boring to maintain viewer interest
C. when the environment is too noisy to capture clean audio
D. when you want to avoid hauling equipment to a faraway location
28. At what distance should the microphone be from the subject during an interview?
A. as close as possible
B. 3–5 feet away
C. at least 10 feet away
D. as far away as possible
Instructor Resource
Filak, Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
29. Which type of microphone is the most unobtrusive for interviews?
A. built-in
B. stick
C. lavalier
D. boom
30. Which of the following words best describes the ideal background for a broadcast interview?
A. clean
B. vibrant
C. active
D. intricate
31. What is the best way to avoid including dead art in your story?
A. Tell the subjects to act naturally.
B. Make sure all photographs include actions and reactions.
C. Pose the subjects together so that their faces are all clearly visible.
D. Focus on giving readers a straightforward view of buildings or nature.
32. Where does the eye naturally go when consuming content?
A. directly to the center
B. the far-right margin
C. one-third up, two-thirds from the right
D. two-thirds up, one-third from the left
33. When a photograph does not have any interesting elements at the power points, the reporter should
______.
A. publish the shot as is
B. use the caption to create more excitement
Instructor Resource
Filak, Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
C. crop the shot
D. rewrite the story to avoid using the shot
34. Which of the following is an example of active media?
A. newspaper
B. radio broadcast
C. television broadcast
D. online video
35. What is the most effective way to capture a complete story on video?
A. Shoot as much content as possible and sort out the story in editing.
B. Have a mental plan for the story before shooting.
C. Schedule two different shooting sessions to make sure you have complete coverage of the event.
D. Ask the story subjects how they would like to be portrayed.
36. Which of the following is true about video footage?
A. Every frame should be able to stand as its own artistic photograph.
B. The final shot is the only one that matters.
C. The initial two seconds make the strongest impression on viewers.
D. The rules of still photography do not apply.
37. Which of the following is the most difficult aspect of shooting video?
A. achieving correct focus
B. maintaining stability
C. establishing favorable lighting
D. keeping the action in frame
38. What is a monopod used for?
A. isolating sound during interviews
Instructor Resource
Filak, Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
B. blocking excessive light
C. capturing stable video while moving
D. broadcasting live audio streams
39. What is the best course of action when video shots are blurry?
A. Reshoot the shots if possible.
B. Use digital filters to smooth the footage.
C. Explain what is going on using captions.
D. Replace the footage with a still shot.
40. How much video should be shot for a given story?
A. only a few seconds of action that can be run on a loop
B. just enough to set the scene
C. only the shots you know will be included in the story
D. much more than you think you will need
41. Which of the following is most likely to create a sense of continuity and flow in a video package?
A. shooting all shots from the same distance
B. capturing shots from multiple vantage points
C. using one long shot rather than multiple edits
D. using dramatic effects to transition between shots
42. Which of the following best describes the approach that videographers should take when gathering
footage?
A. Get up close and personal.
B. Get in and out as quickly as possible.
C. Shoot from a distance and make use of your zoom.
D. Use only mobile phones to avoid disrupting others.
43. How can videographers ensure that their footage feels natural?
A. Defer to the preferences of others.
B. Use social media postings instead of live video.
C. Don’t tell others when you are capturing them on video.
D. Be confident in your approach.
1. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. Which of the following are true about cassette-based audio recorders in
comparison with more modern digital recorders?
A. inferior sound
B. more portable
C. more limited recording time
D. more web-friendly
2. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. Which of the following are reasons to purchase a professional video
camera?
A. You want to manage individual settings.
B. You value simplicity and convenience.
C. You want to keep costs low.
D. You prefer manual focus.
3. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. Which of the following are most likely true about a camera that includes
several accessories?
A. less expensive
B. more expensive
C. poorer quality
D. better quality
4. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. Which of the following are advantages of using compact cameras over
mobile phone cameras?
A. stronger flashes
B. superior zoom
C. faster image editing
D. easier to use
5. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. Which type(s) of photographs are ideal for mobile phone cameras?
A. mug shots
B. sporting events
C. still shots
D. action shots
6. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. Which of the following are examples of ambient sound?
A. interview soundbites
B. an anchor’s voice-over
C. birds chirping
D. shoes squeaking in a gymnasium
7. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. Which of the following are important to communicate with photographs?
A. who the reporter is
B. what happened
C. when the event occurred
D. why the story matters
1. The quality of the equipment is more important than the skill of the journalist.
2. Stick microphones are the least obtrusive microphone type.
3. Audio recorders have gotten smaller as technology has progressed.
4. Audio content posted to the Internet should be captured using expensive professional equipment.
5. Built-in microphones on cameras typically have the same poor quality as those built in to audio
recorders.
6. Mobile phone camera sensors are generally of the same quality as those in dedicated photography
devices.
7. A video sequence can be considered complete even without a close-up shot.
8. When taking photographs, the subject should be directly centered in the shot.
Instructor Resource
Filak, Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
9. Reporters should have a checklist of shots that they want to include in a video package before they
start shooting.
10. The rule of thirds applies to video as well as photographs.
1. What is the best course of action for someone who is not proficient with technology but needs to use a
camera for his or her reporting?
2. Explain the ideal technique for using microphones to capture audio during an interview. Which
microphone type is the most effective at meeting these conditions?
3. List the three types of shots and their common purposes in video packages.
4. What are “power points” in a photograph, and how can you find them?
5. Explain the possible methods for remaining stable while shooting video.
1. Describe the major types of microphones and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
2. With the help of an example, explain how background noise and even audio from a quiet room can be
used to improve the overall coherence of a package. Also discuss when it should be used.
3. Describe how a selection of photographs can be used to tell a story. How can the journalist decide
which photographs to use and how they should be arranged?
4. When and how are captions used? What are the various parts, and what should they accomplish?
5. What does it mean to “shoot for the edit”?
