Multiple choice

Which of the following cannot be said to have emanated from the passage?

  1. There is an exaggerated emphasis on the reportorial function.
  2. Headlines are a very important ingredient of a newspaper.
  3. Copy desk role being anonymous is the least important function in a newspaper.

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

Journalism students and perhaps the public in general, have a tendency to emphasize the reportorial function. That is entirely understandable when it is considered that the reporter is the newspaper representative the public sees. In mythology, if not in fact, he is the movie character with the fearless approach, the loud voice and manner, the porkpie hat, the dangling cigarette. Furthermore, his work is frequently recognized with bylines. The reporter has a chance, at least, to become a public personality.
The copy desk role is an anonymous one. “The man in the green eyeshade” is not only virtually unknown to the public, his job is often underestimated in the newspaper office itself. A volunteer escort taking some visitors through the New York Herald Tribunehesitated at the copy desk. “This is where they write headlines, and—fix things,” he said.
This, as a matter of fact, was not a bad description, if lacking in detail.
There is no intention here to underestimate the importance of the reporter. A great newspaper is an impossibility without great reporters. No newspaper, no matter how brilliantly presented, can  rise above the solid core of fact, astutely gathered, carefully checked, and clearly written, that is the most important single ingredient of the press.
But bad editing can nullify good reporting. And bad copy desk management can take the edge off brilliant news gathering by constricting its presentation, both in the way it is written and in its typographical presentation. Copy editing and make up, most would say, are the basic principles of newspaper work, though it could be added that copy editing is basic to communications in general. Wherever language is employed to communicate to a mass audience, some sort of copyreader is essential. The basic skills in newspaper editing are valuable assets to the communications technician in the fields of advertising, radio, television, magazines, trade journals, public relations, books, movies, etc.
In all these areas, competence to improve the flow and meaningfulness of language, to safeguard accuracy, and to present the finished product in an attractive package is at a high premium. A good newspaper copy editor with sufficient flexibility in his makeup can carry his skill into any of these fields.
The student, therefore, who is required to pursue a course in news editing, should not let the fact that the course has a newspaper orientation discourage him. If he makes the most of the opportunity to acquire real skill, that skill will pay off in any branch of journalism.

 

  1. 1 and 2 only

  2. 2 and 3 only

  3. 2 only

  4. 3 only

  5. None of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The passage states headlines are 'a very important ingredient' (option 2 can be said to have emanated). It emphasizes that copy desk work is essential despite being anonymous, calling the idea that it's 'least important' a misunderstanding (option 3 cannot be said). The passage says the reporter function is 'entirely understandable' to emphasize, not exaggerated emphasis (option 1 is ambiguous). Therefore, only option 3 clearly cannot be said to have emanated from the passage.