3N0X5 Volume 4. Computer Basics, Digital Imaging And Writing Fundamentals

Front 1

List five of the best sources from
which reporters can gather news.

Back 1

Meetings, events, Public Affairs
representatives, stringers, and beats.

Front 2

How can a reporter gather
information from meetings and
events?

Back 2

Take notes, ask questions,
and keep eyes and ears open.

Front 3

What are stringers?

Back 3

People other than UPARs who write
stories for your paper or feed you
information for stories.

Front 4

How can UPARs help you
gather news?

Back 4

They see what’s happening in their unit and can
provide stories and ideas for the base newspaper or
website.

Front 5

What information do you record
in each UPAR’s reference file?

Back 5

Name, squadron, duty title, phone
number, and e-mail address.

Front 6

What type of system is used when a
reporter is assigned a list of offices to
visit each week?

Back 6

A beat system

Front 7

What publications can you use as
an outline for assigning beats?

Back 7

Base telephone directory and
wing organizational chart

Front 8

What are two alternatives to basic
news sources from which you can
gather news?

Back 8

Any two: Base telephone directory, the
Force Support marketing specialist,
other people, electronic media.

Front 9

How can you use the base
telephone directory to gather news?

Back 9

Browse for ideas or behindthe-
scenes organizations.

Front 10

What is the Force Support
marketing specialist’s duty?

Back 10

Publicize all of the sporting events,
tickets and tours, and outdoor
recreation programs on the base.

Front 11

How can the Force Support
marketing specialist assist you in
gathering the news?

Back 11

Often times, the marketing specialist is willing to
gather all of the services material and submit it to you
in the proper format for publication.

Front 12

As a reporter for your newspaper,
who are some of the people you
must get to know?

Back 12

Commanders, staff agency chiefs, command chief
master sergeants, first sergeants and local recruiting
offices.

Front 13

What can electronic news sources
provide a Public Affairs reporter?

Back 13

Story ideas, photos, and
graphics support

Front 14

List the four steps in
preparing for an interview.

Back 14

(1) Prepare; (2) devise a story angle;
(3) write questions; and (4) make an
appointment.

Front 15

List eight items to research before
you schedule an interview.

Back 15

(1) The spelling of the person’s name; (2) the person’s title or rank; (3) the person’s
background (where the
person was before assuming the current position); (4) what has been written about the topic in
newspaper
articles before; (5) what has the person said about this topic before; (6) the air Force policy
concerning the
topic; (7) your commander’s position on the topic; and (8) other relevant details.

Front 16

When developing a story angle (or
peg), what four questions do you ask
yourself?

Back 16

(1) What will the story be about? (2) What information
gaps remain after my research?; (3) What sources
must I interview?; and (4) What can each source tell
me?

Front 17

After conducting your research, what do you do
to form your thinking and help prevent you from
groping during the interview?

Back 17

Write a trial lead or two

Front 18

How many questions should you
prepare before going into the
interview?

Back 18

At least 10

Front 19

In what order do you write
down your questions?

Back 19

In a logical order

Front 20

Why do you make an appointment
in advance for an interview?

Back 20

People are busy in their
jobs.

Front 21

Why do you keep conversations with
aides, secretaries, and so forth
friendly and respectful?

Back 21

To help ensure you get
the interview.

Front 22

Identify 10 interview
techniques.

Back 22

Any 10: prepare; be punctual; check your appearance;
be respectful; state the purpose; ask your questions;
probe; be sensitive; be flexible and attentive; vary
procedures; take good notes; leave gracefully.

Front 23

What should you have ready
when you leave for an interview?

Back 23

All of your supplies and
your questions.

Front 24

What is a good way to relax your
source in the opening of an
interview?

Back 24

Ask three or four easy
questions.

Front 25

If you are getting vague answers
from a source, what do you need to
do?

Back 25

Ask follow-up questions to get more
definite and useable story
information.

Front 26

What do you do if, during the course of an interview, a
new angle becomes apparent which may
prove more interesting than the original plan?

Back 26

Abandon your preplanned approach
and follow the new angle

Front 27

Why should you take good notes, especially when
you interview someone who is talking about
numbers or highly technical information?

Back 27

You can’t remember
everything a source says

Front 28

Why do you review your notes
immediately after an interview?

Back 28

To fill in gaps and clarify your
scribbling while the information is still
fresh in your mind.

Front 29

What determines the type of
technique you use during an
interview?

Back 29

The subject’s temperament and your
ability to adjust to each situation

Front 30

What does using an audio recorder
during an interview help you do?

Back 30

It helps you concentrate on what is
being said rather than on taking
notes.

Front 31

If you discover your audio recorder
stopped in the middle of the
interview, what do you do?

Back 31

Use your notes to fall
back on.

Front 32

What are the six advantages of
using an audio recorder during an
interview?

Back 32

(1) They record everything; (2) they catch the words of fast talkers; (3) they allow you to
capture the
“mood” of a speaker; (4) you can concentrate on what is being said instead of just taking
notes; (5) they
help protect you from charges of misquoting someone; and (6) they help you improve your
interviewing
techniques by providing immediate “feedback.”

Front 33

List the seven disadvantages
of using an audio recorder.

Back 33

(1) The tape cannot be “read” easily; (2) recorders pick up all sounds; (3) recorders are not
always
available; (4) recorders are subject to dead batteries, mechanical failures, and other problems;
(5) electrical
generators and broadcasting equipment can make recorders useless; (6) the source may
refuse to speak in
the presence of a recorder; and (7) all persons present must agree to allow you to use the
recorder.

Front 34

What is the policy for use of an audio
recorder in a meeting or during a
phone interview?

Back 34

Everyone in the meeting must agree to you using an
audio recorder. If even one person objects, you may
be legally prohibited from doing so.

Front 35

What type of news comprises the
bulk of your base newspaper or
website’s content?

Back 35

Local

Front 36

What types of articles does the Air Force
newspaper or website carry for balanced and
comprehensive coverage?

Back 36

News, features, commentaries, sports and
entertainment from local, command, Air force, and
Department
of Defense sources.

Front 37

What type of reporting is
inappropriate for base Public Affairs
reporters?

Back 37

Investigative reporting

Front 38

What three characteristics does an
editor use to determine news value?

Back 38

Authenticity, good taste,
and mass appeal.

Front 39

Placing the most important element of a story at
the beginning is an example of what type of
writing style?

Back 39

Inverted pyramid

Front 40

In the inverted pyramid writing
style, how do you present facts?

Back 40

In descending order of
importance

Front 41

What does the widest part of the inverted pyramid
represent—the lead sentence or the closing
sentence?

Back 41

Lead sentence

Front 42

What are three important
advantages of the inverted pyramid
style of writing?

Back 42

(1) It highlights the news, thus acting as a news bulleting for each item. (2) Having the main
idea of an
article confined to a single sentence or paragraph at the very beginning helps headline writers
and editors
by allowing them to write a headline without reading the entire story. (3) It allows the editor to
cut copy
from the bottom, while preserving the essence of the story.

Front 43

What is the most important
sentence in a news story?

Back 43

The lead (opening)
sentence.

Front 44

On what factor does lead
emphasis depend?

Back 44

The element you choose
to feature.

Front 45

What variation of the “Who” lead are you using
when you identify the people or organization in
the bridge?

Back 45

Impersonal who

Front 46

Compile four questions that you may
use as a self-test to check the
effectiveness of your leads.

Back 46

(1) Can your lead stand along? (2) Is your lead
conclusive? (3) Does your lead suggest a good
headline?
and (4) Is your lead authenticated?

Front 47

What element connects the
lead and the body of a story?

Back 47

The bridge

Front 48

What are two purposes of
the bridge?

Back 48

To bring in significant details that are unsuitable for the
lead but too important to place in the body and to
provide a smooth transition and continuity between the
lead and the body of a story.

Front 49

Name the five forms of
bridges

Back 49

(1) How and why, (2) attribution, (3)
identification, (4) tie-back, (5)
secondary facts.

Front 50

What is the primary
purpose of transitions?

Back 50

To provide a smooth move from
one idea or paragraph to the next.

Front 51

What part of the news story supports
the lead by telling the story in detail?

Back 51

Body

Front 52

What percentage of space in your
base newspaper should be sports
coverage?

Back 52

10 to 25 percent.

Front 53

Why should sports writers have
knowledge of the game they are
assigned to cover?

Back 53

To be able to interpret the game
and related actions to the readers.

Front 54

What format do you use
for most sports stories?

Back 54

The inverted pyramid

Front 55

List at least six elements that make
good lead material for a sports writer

Back 55

(1) Outcome; (2) significance; (3) how the victory was
won; (4) important plays; (5) comparison of teams;
(6) individual records or stars; (7) weather; and (8)
crowd or occasion.

Front 56

What information do you include
in the body of a sports story?

Back 56

Amplify the lead and write a concise,
vivid description of the contest.

Front 57

In a sports story, where
does a box score appear?

Back 57

Immediately following the
account of the game.

Front 58

If you’re assigned to cover a sports
event, when should you get the
lineups?

Back 58

Before the game

Front 59

What could you do with
information about an injury?

Back 59

Mention the injury in the main story
and write a separate short story
about the injured player.

Front 60

Compare the style and construction
of the sports story to that of a straight
news story

Back 60

Sports are written in a more informal style than straight
news, even though actual story construction is
usually the same.

Front 61

What are five subjects that make
good copy for the sports columnist?

Back 61

(1) Criticism and comment; (2)
predictions; (3) gossip; (4) sports
editorials; and (5) practical guidance.

Front 62

In what type of column do anecdotes
about well-known sports figures fall?

Back 62

A sports gossip column

Front 63

In what type of column would you
plug attendance for an event?

Back 63

Sports editorials

Front 64

What is a commentary?

Back 64

An article in a newspaper or
magazine that give the view of the
author.

Front 65

What is the policy for Air Force
newspaper commentaries?

Back 65

Reflect the policies and views of the
command and promote specific
information objectives

Front 66

May a commentary in an Air Force newspaper
ever imply criticism of another government
agency? Explain

Back 66

No. Editorial comment must neither imply criticism of
other government agencies nor advocate or dispute
specific political, diplomatic, or legislative matters.

Front 67

What guidelines do we have on
the opening of a commentary?

Back 67

It should not be long and
drawn out.

Front 68

What are two types of materials,
other than commentaries, that often
appear on editorial pages?

Back 68

Columns and cartoons

Front 69

Why should a cutline be
included with every photo?

Back 69

It is critical to include additional written information to explain what is
happening in that photo and how it
ties in to your story. Never take it for granted that your readers are going to
derive the same information or
draw the same conclusions as someone else simply because it seems
“obvious”.

Front 70

What is the rule regarding text
duplication in a cutline and the text of
a story?

Back 70

When used in conjunction with a story, cutlines should
be tied to both the photo and the story; but the text
should not be a duplication of the text used in the story
itself.

Front 71

What are the key elements which
must be included in every cutline?

Back 71

The key elements must answer the
questions: Who?; What?; Where?;
and Whe

Front 72

What is normally the maximum
number of people you should identify
by name in a photo?

Back 72

Normally no more than
three.

Front 73

What should you do when you have more than
the maximum number of identifiable people in the
photo?

Back 73

You should focus on identifying the people performing
the actual action within the photos who are also
identified in the body of the story. Use a generic
descriptor for the rest of the people.

Front 74

What questions can be answered
in an extended cutline?

Back 74

Additional questions answered by an
extended cutline are How and Why

Front 75

What is a feature story

Back 75

An interesting, but not necessarily timely, article that
stresses the information or human interest angle more
than the news angle.

Front 76

List the five types of
feature stories.

Back 76

(1) News, (2) human interest, (3)
news sidebar, (4) personality, and (5)
auxiliary features.

Front 77

Under what four circumstances
might you use a news feature?

Back 77

(1) Another newspaper has already reported on the
event; (2) The news is “old”; (3) The feature aspects of
the story outweigh the news value; and (4) you want to
add human interest aspects to the story.

Front 78

What type of feature story is a
dramatization of life, rather than
merely conveying information?

Back 78

Human interest

Front 79

When an important news story breaks and there are
several angles that you might write into
separate stories, what type of feature might you use
for these other stories?

Back 79

News sidebar.

Front 80

What type of feature story can you write on the
assignment of a new key member of the base
commander’s staff?

Back 80

Personality

Front 81

Cite two reasons a personality
feature has more appeal than a news
story.

Back 81

(1) It puts the reader in the story and (2) it takes a
different approach to what could be a dull story for the
reader.

Front 82

What is the most important part
of a feature story? Explain.

Back 82

The lead. It starts the readers on the journey through
the story, compelling them to read on. It captures the
reader’s attention by answering the question, “What’s
in it for me?”

Front 83

List nine types of feature
leads.

Back 83

(1) Summary, (2) narrative, (3) descriptive, (4) direct
address, (5) freak, (6) teaser, (7) question, (8)
combination, and (9) quote.

Front 84

Which type of feature lead is much
the same as a straight news lead?

Back 84

Summary

Front 85

What type of feature lead places the readers into
the story and tends to make them part of the
adventure?

Back 85

Narrative

Front 86

What type of feature lead
speaks directly to the reader?

Back 86

Direct address.

Front 87

What do we call a feature lead that
teases the readers in a jesting
manner?

Back 87

Teaser

Front 88

Name the feature lead that works
only if it arouses or challenges the
reader’s knowledge.

Back 88

Question

Front 89

What type of feature lead uses the
best element of two or more feature
leads?

Back 89

Combination

Front 90

What are four of the most common
types of special columns?

Back 90

Action line columns, birth
announcement columns, spotlight
columns, and sortie scoreboards

Front 91

What information do you avoid in
birth announcement columns? Give
an example.

Back 91

Clichés. “Bouncing baby
boy.”

Front 92

What are the three types
of spotlight columns?

Back 92

(1) Individual, (2) unit and
(3) recognition.

Front 93

List six events you could use in a
recognition spotlight column.

Back 93

(1) Promotions, (2) certificates of appreciation, (3)
retirements, (4) reenlistments, (5) hails and farewells,
and (6) CCAF graduations.

Front 94

What is one of the most read
columns of any base newspaper?

Back 94

Action line.

Front 95

What can you use to keep base
people informed on the status of the
wing’s flying program?

Back 95

Sortie scoreboard

Front 96

What type of column do we use to show how the
people of your base feel about topics that are
important to them?

Back 96

Sidewalk interview
column.

Front 97

Why must you know copy editing
symbols and processes?

Back 97

Correct stories and make
them “read” better

Front 98

What three things must you
know to quickly edit news copy?

Back 98

English, good writing practices,
and copy editing symbols.

Front 99

What are copy editing
symbols?

Back 99

A type of shorthand to help editors
make corrections quickly and
efficiently

Front 100

What is the greatest problem
with which an editor struggles?

Back 100

Inaccuracy

Front 101

Why must editors and writers
always strive for accuracy?

Back 101

A newspaper’s reputation is largely
based on how accurate its audience
perceives it to be.

Front 102

List six areas of grammar to
check when you edit copy.

Back 102

Any six: Verb tenses, active voice, editorializing,
dangling participles, noun-pronoun agreement, incorrect
antecedent, split infinitive, misplaced modifier.

Front 103

What is the problem with
using a grammar checker?

Back 103

They cannot understand the content
of an article, and they often indicate
problems where none exist.

Front 104

List nine pitfalls to look for when
you check linguistic style.

Back 104

(1) Verbosity, (2) word choice; (3) word length, (4)
generalizations, (5) long sentences, (6) clichés, (7)
undefined acronyms, (8) slang, and (9) illogical
organization.

Front 105

When you are checking copy for
cohesiveness, what are you
ensuring?

Back 105

How the story flows

Front 106

State three reasons rewrites
are sometimes necessary

Back 106

New angles may come up that you must include in the
story, the copy may be too long and require
shortening, or the story may need to be updated or
reorganized to make it more effective.

Front 107

What are three types of
rewrites?

Back 107

Follow-ups, localizing news,
and combining stories.

Front 108

What is the first step in
rewriting a story?

Back 108

Verify the facts

Front 109

What are the two types of
a follow-up?

Back 109

Follow-up to an earlier feature
or to a former news story.

Front 110

What is “localizing” a
story?

Back 110

Taking an important news service
article and applying a local angle to
it.

Front 111

Where can you find DOD and Air
Force policies on security review?

Back 111

DOD 5200.1–R, AFI 35
–102, and AFI 31–401

Front 112

What do you do to distinguish
between fact and opinion in a news
story?

Back 112

When an opinion is expressed,
identify the person or source

Front 113

When is it appropriate to mention the
use of alcohol and tobacco products
in articles?

Back 113

These products can be mentioned
as long as the emphasis is on the
activities and not the products.

Front 114

Can you mention commercial
sponsors with other pertinent facts in
news? If so, how?

Back 114

Yes, only incidentally

Front 115

Can you give credit to other sources
of information used in your
newspaper?

Back 115

Yes