Newspapers 101: How Well Do You Know the History of Newspapers in America?
Think you know the news inside and out? You may be a news junkie, but how well do you know the history of newspapers in the U.S.? From the first American newspaper to the most recent Pulitzer Prize winners, we'll test your news knowledge to see how much of a newsy you really are!
Quiz Questions
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1.The very first English-language American newspaper was Boston's Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick. In what year did this paper first publish?
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A.1708
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B.1691(Correct Answer)
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C.1517
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D.1653
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2.The second American newspaper also came out of Boston. What was it called?
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A.The Boston News-Letter(Correct Answer)
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B.The Boston Globe
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C.The Boston Ledger
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D.The Boston News-Leader
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3.Some of the earliest newspaper publishers also had another public-service job. What profession did they come from?
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A.Teachers
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B.Soldiers
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C.Religious leaders
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D.Postmasters(Correct Answer)
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4.Benjamin Franklin is famous for his involvement in the early newspaper business. Among his accolades is publishing the first American newspaper in which language?
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A.French
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B.German(Correct Answer)
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C.Dutch
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D.Creole
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5.Which of the Founding Fathers said the following: "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."
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A.John Adams
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B.Samuel Adams
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C.Thomas Jefferson(Correct Answer)
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D.Alexander Hamilton
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6.The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guaranteed Americans the right to a free press. When was this ratified?
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A.1776
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B.1779
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C.1782
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D.1791(Correct Answer)
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7.The earliest newspapers were weeklies and monthlies. When did daily newspapers become common in the U.S.?
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A.1680s
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B.1700s
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C.1790s(Correct Answer)
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D.1850s
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8.Many viewed the Stamp Act of 1765 as the end of American newspapers. What did the Stamp Act require that publishers were against?
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A.All newspapers had to be sent through the mail
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B.American newspapers had to be published on special stamped and taxed paper from Great Britain(Correct Answer)
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C.Newspapers had to be stamped as approved by British Parliament in order to be sold
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D.No hand-printed newspapers were allowed; only papers "stamped" via printing press were permitted
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9.In the 19th century, cheap newspapers were known, collectively, by the coin you could use to pay for them. What were they called?
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A.Nickel news
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B.Dime news
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C.Quarter papers
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D.Penny papers(Correct Answer)
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10.The invention of the telegraph in the 1800s allowed for fast transmission of news and information. It was because of this invention that the Associated Press became the first major wire service. In what year was the AP formed?
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A.1837
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B.1846(Correct Answer)
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C.1852
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D.1869
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11.The first school of journalism was founded at the University of Missouri in what year?
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A.1892
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B.1904(Correct Answer)
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C.1875
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D.1922
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12."News reports should be free from opinion or bias of any kind" is one of the primary rules of journalism as stated by the American Society of Newspaper Editors. When did this rule first come about?
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A.1893
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B.1902
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C.1915
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D.1923(Correct Answer)
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13.The Pulitzer Prize was created to honor the best of American journalism. When was the first Pulitzer awarded?
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A.1917(Correct Answer)
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B.1907
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C.1892
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D.1886
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14.In the early 19th century, a women's newspaper worked to fight for women's equality. It was recently resuscitated for a new generation by the Washington Post. What is it called?
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A.The New York Call
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B.The Lily(Correct Answer)
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C.Talkers
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D.Letters and Journals
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15.The Columbia Journalism Review has long been known as the watchdog of the watchdogs, reviewing and critiquing newspapers and publishers. When did it first offer its views to the news world?
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A.1942
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B.1957
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C.1961(Correct Answer)
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D.1976
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16.What is the term created to describe investigative journalists?
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A.Mop wringers
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B.Muckrakers(Correct Answer)
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C.Mud slingers
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D.Answer D
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17.During the late 1890s, the term "yellow journalism" was coined during the circulation wars between Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. What is yellow journalism?
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A.News printed on recycled paper
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B.Investigative reporting
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C.Sensationalized news reporting(Correct Answer)
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D.Celebrity journalism
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18.Gannett began as one single newspaper, the Elmira Gazette, in 1906. It now owns more than 100 daily newspapers, and 1,000 weeklies. How many unique monthly visitors do they reach?
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A.125 million(Correct Answer)
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B.50 million
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C.85 million
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D.100 million
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19.The New York Times has won the most Pulitzer Prizes in history. How many awards has it received?
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A.83
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B.125(Correct Answer)
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C.57
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D.103
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20.The oldest continuously published newspaper in the United States was first published in 1764. What is the name of that newspaper?
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A.The New York Times
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B.The Boston Globe
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C.The Hartford Courant(Correct Answer)
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D.The Augusta Chronicle
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Quiz Outcomes
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1.0 to 5 correct:Go Back to J School!You tried, but failed. It's okay! We won't hold it against you that you don't know journalism history — as long as you're keeping up with the news.
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2.6 to 10 correct:Newspaper NoviceGood try! You know enough to pass as a freshman journalism student. Keep studying and you'll be a master in no time.
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3.11 to 15 correct:J School GraduateYou're good! You know enough to survive J school and graduate on time. You should be proud.
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4.16 to 20 correct:J School ValedictorianCongratulations! You know so much about journalism history it's almost like you lived it yourself. You're graduating at the top of your class!
