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English Campus Journalism — LET Practice Questions

Campus journalism is a distinct LET English Major topic — expect questions on news writing, editorial style, layout, photojournalism, and the Campus Journalism Act. Many examinees underestimate this section because the rules and terms are specific.

42 reviewed questions on English Campus Journalism — and over 800 across English Major overall — are available with a free LET360 account. Sign up free →

Sample questions with answers and explanations

Sample 1

Why is it important to adhere to ethical standards of journalism?

Answer: B

Journalism ethics (truth, fairness, accuracy, independence) exist mainly so audiences can trust what reporters say. Without trust, no one will believe the news. Ethical reporting protects the relationship between the press and the public.

Tip: Journalism ethics = trust + credibility with readers.

Why the other choices are wrong
  • A. Avoiding legal trouble is a side benefit, not the core purpose of ethics.
  • C. Promoting the organization is public relations, not ethical journalism.
  • D. Entertainment is not the purpose of journalistic ethics.

Sample 2

What is the difference between a hard news story and a soft news story?

Answer: C

Hard news covers serious, urgent topics like politics, crime, disasters, or economy that affect many people. Soft news covers lighter, human-interest topics like lifestyle, entertainment, or quirky stories. The main difference is the seriousness of the subject and the public-impact angle.

Tip: Hard news = serious and urgent; soft news = light and human-interest.

Why the other choices are wrong
  • A. This is too narrow; hard news isn't only political and soft news isn't only lifestyle.
  • B. Hard news isn't always breaking, and feature is a format, not the same as soft news.
  • D. It's actually the reverse: hard news is straightforward; soft news often uses narrative storytelling.

Sample 3

Which of these is NOT a hard news story?

Answer: C

Why the answer fits: Fire, election results, and typhoon damage are timely, factual, breaking events = hard news. A personality FEATURE on a retiring teacher is a soft/feature story — it's about depth and human interest, not a breaking event.

Tip: For 'NOT hard news' questions, look for words like 'feature,' 'personality,' 'profile,' 'human interest' — those are always SOFT news.

Why the other choices are wrong
  • A. Fire = breaking event = hard news.
  • B. Election results = timely factual report = hard news.
  • D. Typhoon damage = breaking event = hard news.
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