Journalist conducting an interview with a notebook and recorder on the table

Tests & Quizzes

Journalism Interview Knowledge

Twelve questions drawn from real interview scenarios, newsroom decisions, and the craft of asking better questions on a news platform.

12 Questions

4 Topics

~8 Minutes

The Interview Craft Quiz

Each question reflects a situation real journalists face — from pre-interview preparation to handling a source who stops talking mid-sentence.

Question 1 of 12

A source agrees to speak "on background." What does this mean in standard journalistic practice?

The information can be published with the source named directly. The information can be used but the source cannot be identified by name. The information is completely off the record and cannot be used at all. The interview must be conducted in a neutral, private location.

Question 2 of 12

Which type of question is most likely to produce a detailed, narrative response from an interview subject?

Closed questions that require a yes or no answer. Leading questions that suggest the desired answer. Open-ended questions that invite the subject to explain in their own words. Hypothetical questions framed around unlikely scenarios.

Question 3 of 12

A politician answers a question by pivoting to a different topic entirely. What is the most effective journalistic response?

Accept the pivot and follow the new topic they introduced. Interrupt immediately and demand a direct answer. Acknowledge their response briefly, then restate the original question clearly. End the interview and note their refusal to answer in the published piece.

Question 4 of 12

What is the primary purpose of conducting pre-interview research before meeting a source?

To impress the source with your knowledge and build rapport quickly. To identify inconsistencies, ask informed follow-ups, and avoid basic factual errors. To prepare a script that covers every possible answer in advance. To reduce the total duration of the interview session.

Question 5 of 12

When a source says something surprising mid-interview, what should a journalist prioritise?

Stay on the prepared question list to maintain interview structure. Pause, note the statement, and probe further with a follow-up question. Move on quickly to avoid making the source uncomfortable. Ask the source to repeat the statement on the record before continuing.

Question 6 of 12

Which of the following best describes the "off the record" agreement between a journalist and a source?

The source's name is withheld but their statements can still be published. The information shared cannot be used in any published form without further agreement. The journalist may publish the information only after the story is verified. The source retains editorial control over how their quotes appear.

Question 7 of 12

A journalist is interviewing a grieving family member after a tragedy. Which approach reflects responsible practice?

Ask direct and pointed questions to gather facts as efficiently as possible. Avoid the interview entirely — family members are never reliable sources. Allow silence, listen without rushing, and let the subject set the pace. Record the conversation covertly to avoid disrupting the emotional moment.

Question 8 of 12

What does "quote approval" mean, and why do most editorial standards discourage it?

Letting a source review and alter their quotes before publication, which compromises editorial independence. A legal requirement in some countries that protects sources from misquotation. A fact-checking process where editors verify quotes against the original recording. An agreement that allows a news platform to republish interview content freely.

Question 9 of 12

In a recorded interview, a source makes a factual claim you cannot immediately verify. What is the correct next step?

Publish the claim with a note that it is unverified. Remove the claim from the published piece without informing the source. Note the claim during the interview, then verify through independent sources before publishing. Ask the source to provide written proof before the interview continues.

Question 10 of 12

Silence after a question is answered can be a powerful interview technique. Why?

It signals to the source that their answer was unsatisfactory. It gives the journalist time to review their notes before asking the next question. Sources often fill silence with additional detail, context, or admissions they hadn't planned to share. It creates an uncomfortable atmosphere that pressures the source into agreeing with the journalist.

Question 11 of 12

What is the key difference between a profile interview and a news interview?

Profile interviews are shorter and focus only on professional achievements. A profile explores the person — their character, history, and perspective — while a news interview extracts specific facts about an event. News interviews require two journalists to be present, while profiles can be conducted alone. Profile interviews are always conducted in writing rather than in person.

Question 12 of 12

A source requests to see the full article before it is published. How should a journalist respond?

Share the full article — transparency builds trust with sources. Offer to read back their specific quotes for accuracy, but decline to share the full piece. Agree only if the source is a public figure or government official. Cancel the interview — a source who asks this cannot be trusted.

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What this quiz covers

These twelve questions map the terrain most journalism students and working reporters navigate daily. Source agreements, questioning technique, ethical boundaries — each scenario was drawn from documented newsroom situations.

Getting a question wrong is more useful than getting it right. Each incorrect answer points to a gap worth revisiting in your practice or study.

The questions are grouped loosely around four areas: sourcing protocols, interview mechanics, ethical conduct, and editorial decision-making on a news platform.

Source Terms

On record, on background, off the record — three distinct agreements with different publication rules.

Questioning

Open questions, silence, and follow-ups are the core tools of any skilled interviewer.

Ethics

Vulnerable sources, covert recording, and quote approval each carry specific ethical weight.

Editorial

What a journalist publishes, withholds, or verifies shapes the credibility of every piece they file.