MEJO 153 STUDY GUIDE UNC WITH
100% CORRECT ANSWERS
What are the roadblocks to reaching audiences? Explain why is is a hinderance and could
prevent us from reaching our audience?'' - answer 1. Media and info glut: infinite competition;
users can choose from such an array of material
2. Hectic lifestyles: audiences today are busier than ever with multiple commitments to work,
family, and leisure.
3. Diversity of audiences: society increasingly diverse; media writers work to keep up with
changes in audience as well as audience needs/interests
4. Unfriendly messages: message that bores an audience or takes too long to understand can be
greatest roadbloack; messages must be readable, compelling, clear, simple
What are the primary forms of info gathering? What are the downfalls of each? - answer 1.
Interviewing: sensitive subjects, tough questions, emotions, unresponsiveness, quoting correct,
off the record
2. Library and Online Research: accuracy, authority, currency, audience, agenda
3. Other Sources (observation: nonverbal communication, general observation, participant
observation, seeing isn't enough): descriptions can create bias, perspective, feelings could
influence writing
Assessing the info you have gathered, what is the primary question the writer must ask? -
answer Why do they care?
Main stages of the writing process: - answer 1. Stage 1: info gathering - variety of sources
2. Stage 2: thinking and planning - determines angle and focus
3. Stage 3: listing - lists facts/ideas; ranks info, guides structure of message, texts began to shape
4. Stage 4: Writing the message as you would tell it - creation of first version of message
5. Stage 5: rewriting - improving message; message streamlined to reach audience
6. Stage 6: sharing - gives better idea of how audience will react
, 7. Stage 7: polishing - mechanical aspects of writing are accurate and clear
News Values - answer 1. Prominence → famous people, well-known
2. Timeliness → recent events
3. Proximity → close to area
4. Impact → how it affects you
5. Magnitude → reach, how many people it reaches
6. Conflict → fighting, disagreeing, differences of opinion
7. Oddity → strange news
8. Emotional Impact → pulls at your heartstrings, identify with someone
Types of Leads - answer 1. Summary lead: tells or summarizes the most important info
(complete leads, multiple-element leads, delayed-identification leads)
2. anecdotal or affective leads: illustrate how one person has been affected, then abstract
becomes real
3. descriptive leads: puts emotion or human element into message, sets scene; Danger: writers
lose audience
4. question leads: rarely successful, should be avoided, lazy way out
5. quote leads: use sparingly, rarely does someone sum up an entire speech or decision
6. direct address leads: leads straight to consumer or reader; gives advice
story structures - answer inverted pyramid, chronological, numerical, mapped, hourglass
inverted pyramid - answer news elements (5 W's, H)
Supporting details
least important; inverted pyramid retains value today when messages are short and more
direct; growth of online news consumption has made inverted pyramid more important than
ever; readers want to know quickly the point of the message/its relevance
100% CORRECT ANSWERS
What are the roadblocks to reaching audiences? Explain why is is a hinderance and could
prevent us from reaching our audience?'' - answer 1. Media and info glut: infinite competition;
users can choose from such an array of material
2. Hectic lifestyles: audiences today are busier than ever with multiple commitments to work,
family, and leisure.
3. Diversity of audiences: society increasingly diverse; media writers work to keep up with
changes in audience as well as audience needs/interests
4. Unfriendly messages: message that bores an audience or takes too long to understand can be
greatest roadbloack; messages must be readable, compelling, clear, simple
What are the primary forms of info gathering? What are the downfalls of each? - answer 1.
Interviewing: sensitive subjects, tough questions, emotions, unresponsiveness, quoting correct,
off the record
2. Library and Online Research: accuracy, authority, currency, audience, agenda
3. Other Sources (observation: nonverbal communication, general observation, participant
observation, seeing isn't enough): descriptions can create bias, perspective, feelings could
influence writing
Assessing the info you have gathered, what is the primary question the writer must ask? -
answer Why do they care?
Main stages of the writing process: - answer 1. Stage 1: info gathering - variety of sources
2. Stage 2: thinking and planning - determines angle and focus
3. Stage 3: listing - lists facts/ideas; ranks info, guides structure of message, texts began to shape
4. Stage 4: Writing the message as you would tell it - creation of first version of message
5. Stage 5: rewriting - improving message; message streamlined to reach audience
6. Stage 6: sharing - gives better idea of how audience will react
, 7. Stage 7: polishing - mechanical aspects of writing are accurate and clear
News Values - answer 1. Prominence → famous people, well-known
2. Timeliness → recent events
3. Proximity → close to area
4. Impact → how it affects you
5. Magnitude → reach, how many people it reaches
6. Conflict → fighting, disagreeing, differences of opinion
7. Oddity → strange news
8. Emotional Impact → pulls at your heartstrings, identify with someone
Types of Leads - answer 1. Summary lead: tells or summarizes the most important info
(complete leads, multiple-element leads, delayed-identification leads)
2. anecdotal or affective leads: illustrate how one person has been affected, then abstract
becomes real
3. descriptive leads: puts emotion or human element into message, sets scene; Danger: writers
lose audience
4. question leads: rarely successful, should be avoided, lazy way out
5. quote leads: use sparingly, rarely does someone sum up an entire speech or decision
6. direct address leads: leads straight to consumer or reader; gives advice
story structures - answer inverted pyramid, chronological, numerical, mapped, hourglass
inverted pyramid - answer news elements (5 W's, H)
Supporting details
least important; inverted pyramid retains value today when messages are short and more
direct; growth of online news consumption has made inverted pyramid more important than
ever; readers want to know quickly the point of the message/its relevance
