Instructor Resource
Filak, Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
Chapter 8: Beyond Basic Reporting: News You Have to Find
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is most important in determining which feature stories will matter to readers?
A. extensive experience
B. strong instincts
C. critical thinking
D. advertiser input
2. Which of the following is the best source of ideas for feature stories?
A. previous news stories
B. everyday experiences
C. editor suggestions
D. social media posts
3. Which of the following suggestions is most likely to generate quality feature stories?
A. Step out of your comfort zone.
B. Stay on the beaten path.
C. Tune out the noise.
D. Ask “what,” not “why”.
4. What is the most likely result of looking for the “big story?”
A. publishing fewer but better stories
B. earning a reputation as a shrewd reporter
C. establishing relationships with high-profile sources
D. overlooking important smaller stories
5. Attending an event, writing a quick story of what happened and why it mattered, then moving on to the
next event is an example of ______.
A. hit–and-run journalism
B. a smear piece
C. a day two story
D. a personality profile
6. Which of the following is an example of a day two story?
A. reporting on what happened at a city council meeting
B. investigating why only certain people were allowed to speak at the city council meeting
C. following up on the implementation of a rule approved by the city council
D. writing a profile on a new city council member
7. Which childlike behavior is most often emulated by good reporters?
A. impulsive decision-making
B. naïve worldview
C. forceful stubbornness
D. endless curiosity
8. What is the primary determinant of which subjects or areas are covered by beat reporters?
A. reporter preferences
B. reader interests
C. advertiser needs
D. police activity
9. Which of the following best describes a beat reporter’s relationship with sources?
A. They rely on the same sources for a variety of stories.
B. They find new sources for every story.
C. They avoid using sources for fear of misinformation.
D. They listen only to sources that approach them first.
Instructor Resource
Filak, Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
10. Which of the following is an example of a thematic beat?
A. data journalism
B. rural reporting
C. city reporting
D. sports reporting
11. A beat that is defined by a physical area is considered a ______ beat.
A. conceptual
B. thematic
C. geographic
D. local
12. Which of the following is most likely to be covered by a conceptual beat journalist?
A. gender-based discrimination
B. city events
C. college athletics
D. local government
13. You are starting a new job as a political reporter for your local paper. What is the best way for you to
get a sense of what the beat entails?
A. Read political stories from other publications.
B. Solicit advice from readers via social media.
C. Interview the previous political reporter.
D. Start writing stories and wait for feedback.
14. A new reporter who wants to determine the types of stories that matter to readers and editors and
haven’t been overdone should ______.
A. read through the publication’s archives
B. search the Internet for topics and story ideas
C. read competing publications
D. conduct a poll of the audience
15. A journalist who wants to better understand how to approach a new beat should consult with his or
her ______.
A. current readers
B. editor
C. family
D. former instructors
16. Which of the following scenarios shows a beat reporter working effectively to develop sources?
A. John sends a mass email to all the school administrators in his coverage area introducing himself.
B. Eric calls a local high school football coach and asks what he considers to be the most important
storyline in the upcoming season.
C. Lori telephones all the city council members in her coverage area and introduces herself.
D. Maria conducts in-person visits with each of the athletic directors at schools covered in her local sports
beat.
17. A beat reporter who spends most of his or her time ______ is likely to receive plenty of tips and story
ideas.
A. pitching story ideas to editors
B. talking to people outside of the newsroom
C. interviewing the person previously assigned to the beat
D. reading news stories online
18. A reporter who wants to get a good sense of what a local organization is allowed to do should consult
______.
A. the opinions of an employee
B. the organization’s governing documents
C. previous news stories about the organization
D. his or her editor
19. A reporter who wants to keep readers informed as to which way the members of a school board voted
on a given issue should pay attention to ______.
A. organization bylaws
B. financial disclosure forms
C. member biographies
D. meeting minutes
20. Information from which of the following documents is likely to generate the most reader interest?
A. organization charts
B. meeting minutes
C. financial disclosure forms
D. corporate charters
21. You are a beat reporter waiting in a hotel lobby for a news conference to start. Which of the following
is the best use of your time?
A. strike up a conversation with the hotel staff
B. quietly review old notes
C. look for other journalists and compare coverage strategies
D. write a quick outline for the story
22. A reporter who is feeling burned out by a specific beat should ______.
A. quit his or her job
B. ask a colleague to swap responsibilities
C. ask sources for better ideas
Instructor Resource
Filak, Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
D. discuss the issue with his or her boss
23. Once you have finished writing a story based on your beat reporting, you should ______.
A. ask sources if they have more information to share
B. find a new beat to cover
C. try to develop new sources
D. publish a thank-you note to your sources on social media
24. Which of the following should a journalist use to determine how often to contact his or her sources?
A. the level of friendship with the sources
B. the type of beat being covered
C. whether the sources have provided quality stories in the past
D. the deadline for the next story
25. A reporter writing a follow-up story on an investigative piece that revealed high levels of pollution
should primarily focus on ______.
A. other companies that have been accused of polluting
B. the global climate change crisis
C. whether the company followed through on its promise to clean up affected areas
D. his or her own attempts to limit harmful emissions
26. Who is most likely to be able to connect the dots and put together a big-picture story?
A. managing editor
B. general assignment reporter
C. beat reporter
D. regular readers
27. Alecia is a beat reporter covering health care in her city. After writing several smaller stories, she
wants to write a big picture story about the quality of care available in her community. Which of the
following should she focus on?
A. long-term trends in health outcomes and patient satisfaction
B. the most recent complaints from patients
C. the personality of a local hospital administrator
D. local government plans for improving health facilities and infrastructure
28. What is the most likely audience reaction to a well-written personality profile?
A. boredom
B. jealousy
C. anger
D. enjoyment
29. Personality profiles should focus on ______.
A. well-known public figures
B. anyone who intrigues you
C. “everyman” types
D. people with bizarre talents
30. Which of the following best describes the most effective personality profiles?
A. a faithful reproduction of the subject’s self-image
B. a collection of memories from people associated with the subject
C. a combination of the source’s personal reflections and observations from others
D. a hyperrealistic depiction of the subject’s appearance and mannerisms
31. Which of the following best describes the purpose of a first interview in the profile writing process?
A. make note of the way the subject presents himself or herself
B. follow up on stories told by friends and colleagues
Instructor Resource
Filak, Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
C. establish basic facts and confirm research findings
D. clear up discrepancies between what the subject says and what your research tells you
32. Tara is preparing for her first profile interview with a local sports star. Which of the following types of
questions should she ask?
A. broad, open-ended questions about life experiences
B. detailed questions about controversial opinions he has expressed
C. follow up on what the athlete’s teammates said about him
D. minor inquiries about personal habits
33. You have just completed your first interview with the subject of a personality profile. What is the next
step you should take?
A. Post raw footage from the interview online as a teaser.
B. Write a draft of the story.
C. Contact secondary sources mentioned during the interview.
D. Hand the material off to your editor for reference.
34. Which of the following is the best secondary source for a personality profile on a local politician?
A. one of the politician’s constituents
B. the politician’s high school social studies teacher
C. the reporter’s family members
D. other reporters who cover political stories
35. You are selecting secondary sources to interview as part of a personality profile. Which of the
following is most important to keep in mind?
A. Avoid people who have a personal relationship with the subject.
B. Focus on subjects who hold a grudge against the subject.
C. Only contact people who are related to the subject.
D. Contact a diverse group of people from different parts of the subject’s life.
36. At which stage of the profile process should you clear up discrepancies that may distract readers?
A. first interview
B. second interview
C. third interview
D. after publication
37. Which of the following is something you should do during the third interview of a personality profile?
A. Observe the subject’s dress and mannerisms.
B. Ask about the subject’s childhood.
C. Follow up on comments made by secondary sources.
D. Clear up discrepancies in what the subject has said.
38. Which of the following is an example of watchdog journalism?
A. writing a profile of a local author
B. reporting from the scene of a deadly accident
C. investigating corruption in the local police force
D. writing a story on a school board meeting
39. What is the purpose of watchdog journalism?
A. gaining attention by stirring up controversy
B. criticizing people with whom you disagree
C. alerting readers to the newest trends
D. guarding the public’s best interests
40. What do watchdog journalists demand from public figures?
A. relatability
B. accountability
C. reciprocation
D. sensationalism
41. To what type of information does the Freedom of Information Act apply?
A. federal records
B. state government records
C. corporate financial documents
D. private correspondence
42. Which of the following grants watchdogs access to state-level government records?
A. Freedom of Information Act
B. Sunshine Laws
C. Lemon Laws
D. Comstock Act
43. The role that reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein played in exposing the Watergate scandal
is an example of ______.
A. hit–and-run journalism
B. conceptual journalism
C. geographic journalism
D. watchdog journalism
44. Which question is at the core of watchdog journalism?
A. Who can be blamed for a given problem?
B. What type of controversy are readers most interested in?
C. Why does something work or not work?
D. What can I do to earn a name as a tough reporter?
1. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. Which elements of the 5W’s and 1H are emphasized in advanced
reporting?
A. who
B. what
C. how
D. why
2. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. Which of the following are likely benefits of becoming a beat reporter?
A. deep knowledge of a specific set of issues or topics
B. broad exposure to the full range of subjects covered by your publication
C. strong relationships with sources
D. ability to rely on your own instincts and opinions rather than verifiable facts
3. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. Which of the following are used to define conceptual beats?
A. physical places
B. ideas
C. tools
D. topics
4. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. A reporter trying to make sense of a new beat would get the most help
from consulting ______.
A. marketing materials
B. meeting minutes
C. lunch receipts
D. budget documents
5. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. Which of the following describe the type of relationship that reporters
should have with their sources?
A. close friendship
B. professional
C. courteous
D. contentious
6. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. Which of the following are crucial elements of profile writing?
A. strong interviewing skills
B. connections to the rich and famous
C. willingness to overlook the flaws in someone
D. a keen eye for observation
True/False
1. Finding the “big story” is the easiest job a reporter faces.
2. Every boss has a different idea of what a beat should entail.
3. The best way for a reporter to stay connected to his or her beat is to call or email sources regularly.
4. Personality profiles appeal to a small minority of readers.
5. A personality profile of an unknown person with an interesting job or skill can attract as much interest
as a celebrity profile.
6. A person’s self-image is typically very close to how they are viewed by the outside world.
7. More than one interview is required to produce a well-rounded personality profile.
8. Sunshine Laws and other open-records laws allow reporters to access the personal information of
private citizens.
9. Watchdog reporters typically try to get answers from people who do not want to give them.
10. When an open-records request is rejected, the reporter should move on to other stories.
1. What does it mean to “open up the aperture of your mind” in the context of finding news stories?
2. What are the main types of beats that reporters cover and what criteria are used to define them?
Instructor Resource
Filak, Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
3. You are starting a job as a local government beat reporter for the largest newspaper in your state. To
familiarize yourself with the role, you are interviewing the previous local government beat reporter. What
are some questions you should ask?
4. What is a secondary source in the context of profile writing?
5. What kinds of information can reporters gather from Freedom of Information Act or Sunshine Law
requests? What limitations exist on the ability to gather information under these laws?
1. List the ways in which a reporter can find feature story ideas and apply them to a recent experience
you had. What are some stories that you might pursue based on the principles described in this chapter?
Instructor Resource
Filak, Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
2. What role do sources play in beat reporting, and what can the reporter do to cultivate productive
relationships with his or her sources?
3. Explain the value of personality profiles to readers. What role does the reporter have in ensuring that
the profile is relevant to a wide audience?
4. Describe the three phases of the personality profile interviewing process and what the reporter should
accomplish in each.
5. Explain the role of watchdogs in journalism. Where do their story ideas come from, what methods do
they use to report on an issue and how do their stories affect society?