156 TExES Journalism 8 - 12 Exam:
The TExES Journalism 8 - 12 Exam is a certification examination that is designed to determine whether or not an individual has the skills and knowledge necessary to teach journalism at the high school level in the Texas public school system. This exam assesses the individual's management and leadership skills as well as the individual's knowledge of the history and development of journalism, the concerns associated with writing journalistic works, forms of journalistic writing, the fundamental concepts of photojournalism, journalistic research skills, and the techniques and skills necessary for students to actually produce and distribute journalistic works. This exam is required in order to become a certified journalism teacher at the high school level within the state of Texas. The exam consists of 90 multiple-choice questions, 80 of which are scored and 10 that are not scored, that are related to the following areas:
- The History and Development of Mass Media and Communication (Approximately 21 questions)
- Journalistic Writing and Photojournalism (Approximately 26 questions)
- Methods for Students to Design, Produce, and Distribute Journalistic Media (Approximately 16 questions)
- Journalism in the School Community (Approximately 16 questions)
The exam-taker will have 2 and ½ hours to complete the exam and the exam will be scored on a scale of 100 - 300 with 240 set as the minimum score considered as passing for the exam. The Journalism 8 - 12 Exam is only offered in a paper-based format and the registration fee for the exam is $82. However, there may be other exams and fees in addition to this exam in order to become certified as a high school journalism teacher within the state of Texas.
156 TExES Journalism 8 - 12 Exam Practice Questions
Sample Study Notes
1. Define social action, social interaction and social relations.
Answer:
Social action is any activity modified by the actions and reactions of other individuals. There are four types of social action:
1. Rational: taken to reach a goal, usually without thought as to consequences or means
2. Instrumental: planned, evaluated and taken after considering means and consequences
3. Emotional: taken to express personal feelings
4. Traditional: taken simply because they are always done in a certain situation
Social interaction is any meeting to which participants attach and interpret meaning and react accordingly. There are four types of social interaction:
1. Accidental: unplanned and unlikely to reoccur
2. Repeated: unplanned but likely to happen occasionally
3. Regular: unplanned but very common; noted if missed
4. Regulated: planned and regulated; will definitely raise questions if missed
Social relations happen between people who are part of a group, between groups of people, and between an individual and a group of people in the same ethnic or kinship clan, social class, organization, country, or gender. The word social infers some kind of association based on mutual dependence and belonging.
2. Discuss the term mass media.
Answer:
The American Heritage College Dictionary defines mass media as, "a means of public communication to a large audience." The term was coined in the 1920s, when radio networks and some newspapers and magazines became available nationwide and began to influence the entire country, rather than just the local population. In today's world, news and entertainment can be spread in many formats, some of which are printed (books, newspapers, magazines) and some of which are electronic (radio, television, films, the Internet).
The Internet, podcasts and blogs have had a profound effect on society. Information is abundant, readily available and easily accessible. Individuals use it and companies rely on it. People are turning to the World Wide Web for news of the day, health information, financial transactions and security. With the advent of so many electronic formats, it is critical for students to be taught to dissect the digital data and learn to scrutinize the sources from which it comes. They need to understand the benefits and the risks, and how to evaluate information found on the Internet.
3. Give a brief history of mass media.
Answer:
Mass media has a long and colorful history. It began in the ancient world with morality plays and other performances, like story telling and pantomime. These theatrical productions were used to inform, teach and preserve tribal traditions. The first known book is the Diamond Sutra printed in China around 868 AD. Movable clay type was invented in China about 1040, but because of the high cost of paper, ink and reproduction, popular printed material did not arrive until about 1400 in Europe. Although Johannes Gutenberg is credited with printing the first book on a printing press with moveable type in 1453, printed material wasn't widely available until about one hundred years later, and was restricted to the wealthy and the church. Newspapers came into existence about 1612. The cost of production and the inability of the "man on the street" to read limited the impact of printed material until the nineteenth century. When education became the norm for the general public and cheaper duplication methods were developed, the influence of the media grew.
4. List the ways mass media can be used. List some forms of print and electronic media.
Answer:
Mass media in its various formats can be used for many purposes. They include:
- ADVOCACY for business and social issues. Advertising, marketing, propaganda, public relations and political communications fall into this category.
- EDUCATION about issues that affect everyone; explanation of government laws and regulations
- ENRICHMENT through the theater, painting, sculpture, and architecture
- ENTERTAINMENT through television, radio, films, music and sports, reading and video games
- JOURNALISM through newspapers, magazines and the Internet
- PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS that explain, inform and educate using radio, television, newspapers and magazines
- BROADCASTING over the airwaves on radio and television
- DISCS and TAPES used for recording music, videos and games
- FILM used for entertainment and education (documentaries)
- THE INTERNET with its blogs and podcasts
5. Define journalism.
Answer:
The American Heritage College Dictionary defines journalism as "the collecting, writing, editing, and presentation of news or news articles; and the style of writing characteristic of newspapers and magazines, marked by the direct presentation of facts." The word itself comes from the Latin "diurnal" (daily) that became the French word "journal." In ancient Rome, the first newspaper, the Acta Diurnal, a handwritten bulletin, was posted every day in the Forum.
Good journalism, as Rudyard Kipling stated, reports the what, when, where, how, and why. In order to qualify as a well-written piece of journalism, these elements must be present, preferably in the first paragraph of the story. Additional information is explanation and filler.
Journalism's purpose is to report factual information about people and current events, explain business, economic and health trends, and discuss the national and international issues of the day. Because journalists and their editors often work on tight deadlines and record important events, Phil Graham, Editor of the Washington Post, described news-oriented journalism as the "first rough draft of history."
6. Discuss the role of journalism in a democratic society.
Answer:
In the 1920s, when modern American journalism was in its infancy, writer Walter Lippmann and philosopher John Dewey began the ongoing debate over journalism's role in a democratic society. Lippmann believed journalism should be a translator between the general public and the "policymaking elites,": politicians, bureaucrats, scientists, etc. He believed the man on the street was unable to understand and too distracted to care about complex issues so the elites have a responsibility, indeed a duty, to explain and interpret. He further believed the public could control the elites through the ballot box.
Dewey believed the man on the street was capable of understanding the issues, and should be part of the decision-making process through public debate and discussion. He didn't discount the experts, but he believed the best ideas would come to light when everyone was actively involved in the process. He believed journalism's role is to study the information, weigh the possible consequences, and inform the public so they could make up their own minds. Most Americans agree with Dewey.
7. Discuss some of the ethical standards journalists are expected to honor.
Answer:
Prior to the twentieth century, small, local newspapers and pamphlet writers dominated the media. They frequently had personal political agendas and felt no compunction about reporting their biased opinion as the "only" viewpoint. Since that time, journalism has matured and developed a set of rules governing the fair, accurate reporting of events. Here is a brief summary of these standards:
- Use original documents and cite sources consulted; interview the people directly involved in the story whenever possible.
- Give full credit for information from all sources quoted or consulted while researching the story; avoid plagiarism.
- Consult multiple original sources; double-check every fact.
- Research and report all facets of the story; don't ignore relevant information.
- Report without bias; if personal feelings interfere with the ability to report fairly and accurately, either disclose the conflict or give the story to another journalist to report.
- Be objective and skeptical; use careful judgment in deciding what information to use.
- Refuse any gifts or favors from sources connected with a story.
8. Define photojournalism.
Answer:
The American Heritage College Dictionary defines photojournalism as "journalism in which photographs supplemented by text present a story." That definition is technically correct. However, photojournalism is much more than pictures telling a story. It is the photojournalist recognizing when images define a specific scene and create the appropriate mood; it is emotion made visible. A good photo stands on its own. Words only enhance the message; they should not be necessary to explain it.
Photojournalism is defined by these qualities:
- TIMELINESS: images are appropriate to the meaning and context of the story
- SOBRIETY: images are an accurate, unbiased depiction of the event's content and tone
- NARRATIVE: images make the facts clearer and help viewers relate on a cultural level Photojournalism should not be confused with these types of photography:
- DOCUMENTARY: truthful images of a specific subject taken from a particular prospective
- STREET: images taken in public places; a candid spotlight on society
- CELEBRITY: images of people in public life, e.g. the arts, sports, and politics
9. Give a brief history of photojournalism.
Answer:
During the American Civil War (1861 to 1865), engravings were used to enhance news reporting. The first halftone reproduction was used in March 1880. Even with the ability to produce halftone photographs on running presses by 1897, there were still limitations. With the ability to transmit images over phone lines in 1921, the wirephoto could be sent almost as fast as the words; this was a huge advance. With the invention of the 35mm Leica camera in 1925 and flashbulbs in 1927, the stage was set for the rise of photojournalism.
During The Golden Age of Photojournalism (the 1930s through the1950s), many magazines and newspapers built their reputations and enlarged their readership using photographs. Photographers like Robert Capra and Margaret Burke-White became as well known as the writers and journalists.
Until the 1980s, newspapers used letterpress technology and printed on low-quality newsprint; consequently, they produced fuzzy photos. Magazines used high-quality ink and glossy paper, which produced beautiful pictures. So even though magazines often used photos first published in newspapers, photographers who worked for newspapers rarely got as much recognition as magazine photographers.
10. Define a photojournalist.
Answer:
Mark Hancock, a photojournalist for The Dallas Morning News, says, "A journalist tells stories. A photographer takes pictures of nouns. A photojournalist takes the best of both and locks it into the most powerful medium available - a single frozen image. Photojournalists capture verbs." A news story answers what, when, where, how and why using words. A news photo answers the same questions using truthful images of the event. A photojournalist takes a picture the same way a journalist writes a sentence using a subject, verb and direct object. Hancock believes, "…it's the photojournalist's obligation to capture the entire sentence involved in every event. There are no excuses."
A photojournalist is a "visual reporter of facts." Because readers trust reporters to tell the truth, a photojournalist has a responsibility to present images accurately and truthfully. The photojournalist looks for examples of the struggles and accomplishments of his community. There is never a need to "set up" reality. If the photojournalist is doing his job, "he simply wants to hang around, be forgotten and wait for the right moment."
