Frequently Asked Questions

What should I expect when I take the exam?

The exam has three components: 50 multiple choice questions, 20 short-answer questions and eight demonstration activities, one of which involves a writing exercise. Feel free to complete the sections in any order. You will have 2.5 hours to complete the exam, so please plan accordingly. You will be able to answer most of the short answer questions in 3-4 sentences, and you may use bullet points as appropriate.

You will use word-processing software to type your answers. You will not be permitted to use notes or other resource materials.

In writing your answers, do not use your name, the name of your school or any other form of identification of yourself or your program. The judges should not be able to determine who you are based on your answers; such answers will be invalidated.

More than one judge will be involved in evaluating your answers. Consequently, each answer must be able to stand alone. Do not refer to your statements in a previous question when answering another question. The rubric and sample answers provided should help you better understand an appropriate length for your responses.

What are the standards for the exam?

JEA's full Standards for Journalism Educators.

#1A – Knowledge of Curriculum and Content/Classroom
1A.4. A solid foundation in law and ethics as it applies to scholastic media, including First Amendment-
related rights and responsibilities

• important court cases related to scholastic journalism and media law
• censorship and prior review
• forums
• editorial policies
• libel
• invasion of privacy
• copyright
• FERPA
• obscenity, profanity
• codes of ethics (JEA, SPJ and others)

1A.5. The history and evolution of media; functions, limitations and influences of media in society

• role of journalism in a democratic society
• five freedoms of the First Amendment
• role of student media in secondary schools
• Yellow Journalism and other historical trends
• credible research methods
• online media and its impact on traditional print media

1A.8. A variety of forms of journalistic writing (i.e. news, features, opinion, etc.) and their appropriate style (i.e. Associated Press, multiple sources with attribution, punctuation, etc.); additional forms unique to journalism (i.e. headlines, cutlines, plus visual presentations, etc.)

1A.9. Importance of matching language use, angle and style with intended audience

• inverted pyramid
• headlines and cutlines/captions
• lead/lede
• AP style
• direct and indirect quotes
• characteristics of news, feature
• types of opinion writing

1A.10. Value of and skills needed to package media products effectively, using various forms of journalistic design utilizing a range of visual, auditory and interactive methods for a variety of media

1B.7. The importance of effective information design for all media

• principles of design
• visual entry points
• grid/column structure
• typography
• use of legally obtained images/sound
• alternative story forms
• readability/navigation
• basic Web design (non-technical)

1A.11. Value of photojournalism to tell stories in compelling ways

• telling the whole story (before, during, after)
• variety of angles, distances (close, medium, wide, high, low)
• aperture, ISO, shutter speed, light
• basic photo manipulation
• photo vs. photo illustration
• rule of thirds (contnued on next page)

1A.6. News values for today’s media consumers

• hard and soft news
• timeliness, proximity, human interest, conflict, impact, prominence
• breaking news

1A.7. The writing process as it relates to journalism (brainstorming, questioning, reporting, gathering and synthesizing information, writing, editing and evaluating the final media product)

1A.8. A variety of forms of journalistic writing (i.e. news, features, opinion, etc.) and their appropriate style (i.e. Associated Press, multiple sources with attribution, punctuation, etc.); additional forms unique to journalism (i.e. headlines, cutlines, plus visual presentations, etc.)

1A.9. Importance of matching language use, angle and style with intended audience

• inverted pyramid
• headlines and cutlines/captions
• lead/lede
• AP style
• direct and indirect quotes
• characteristics of news, feature
• types of opinion writing1A.10. Value of and skills needed to package media products effectively, using various forms of journalistic design utilizing a range of visual, auditory and interactive methods for a variety of media

1B.7. The importance of effective information design for all media

• principles of design
• visual entry points
• grid/column structure
• typography
• use of legally obtained images/sound
• alternative story forms
• readability/navigation
• basic Web design (non-technical)

1A.11. Value of photojournalism to tell stories in compelling ways

• telling the whole story (before, during, after)
• variety of angles, distances (close, medium, wide, high, low)
• aperture, ISO, shutter speed, light
• basic photo manipulation
• photo vs. photo illustration
• rule of thirds
• phototypes:environmentalportraits,mugshots
• compositional techniques (framing, repetition, leading lines, simplicity, silhouette)

1B.4. The value of technology for today’s and tomorrow’s media

1B.6. The role of leadership training, fiscal responsibility, conflict resolution and time management in student publications production

• staff management (including deadlines, conflict resolution)
• staff manual
• business and advertising practices
• scholastic journalism organizations (including their programs, services)
• working with administrators

Who will score my exam?

Members of the JEA Certification Commission will serve as the board of judges for the exam. The 50 multiple-choice questions are worth one point each. Of the 20 short-answer questions, the five law and ethics questions are more heavily weighted. On the demonstration portion of the exam, the writing exercise is more heavily weighted and other questions are worth one point each. At least two judges will read yours answers and answers will be scored holistically. The rubric and sample answers included below represent the scoring criteria.

1	2	3	4
A significant part of the answer is incorrect; several misconceptions exist Answers concepts with limited detail, examples, support; critical components of the answer are missing Response is unclear and wordy	Some of the answer is correct; at most one misconception or error exists Answers some key concepts with limited detail, examples, support; more than one critical component of the answer is missing Response is generally unclear and wordy	Entire answer is correct; no misconceptions exist Answers most key concepts with adequate detail, examples, support; a critical component of the answer is missing Response is generally logical, clear and concise	Entire answer is correct; no misconceptions exist Thoroughly answers all key concepts with strong detail, examples, support Response is logical, clear and concise

Sample answers scored with the rubric

Question 1:
1. List two ways students can use (1) photos that will not violate copyright laws (if they are producing a newspaper, yearbook or online news site) OR (2) music that does not violate copyright laws (if they are producing a broadcast or online news site). Choose to answer either option 1 or option 2.

Answers:

Four points:
For either ... get specific written permission from the copyright owner.
1. Use photos from government sites (FEMA, for instance), use photos from Creative Commons sites, take their
own photos.
2. Create their own music (using something like GarageBand), use only a small portion of a song under fair use
(e.g. if you are indicating the top five songs selected for the Prom theme, you could use a short clip of each).

Three points:
For either ... get specific written permission from the copyright owner.
1. Use photos from government sites, use photos from free Web sites, take their own photos.
2. Create their own music, use only a small portion of a song.

Two points:
1. Use non-copyrighted photos, use your own photos.
2. Use a small portion of a song.

One point:
1. Use your own photos.
2. Use your own music.

Answers:

Four points — The economy and the demand today’s audience has for more visual and interactive presentations have led to changes in coverage and presentation. Backpack journalism means reporting is more efficient and reporters often need to be able to use video, audio and still photography to augment their reporting. To be successful, reporters need to be multimedia literate and deliver stories across platforms, including such emerging venues as Twitter and blogs, sometimes a challenging expectation. In addition, the 24-hour news cycle means constant deadlines and a need to be both fast and accurate and willing to update continually.

Three points —  Reporters are faced with learning new technologies and delivering information in new ways like Web sites. They may be required to deliver stories not only in their newspapers but also on television and Web sites. This means they have to learn how to use new equipment and software (and quickly) because of a 24-hour news cycle.

Two points —  Reporters are using new technologies to combine different kinds of journalism. A reporter may not just write a story but he may also have visuals and audio to go with it. News cycles have changed so reporters have to file stories more frequently.

One point — Reporting and the role of reporters have changed a lot in the last 20 years. With changes in technology, reporters’ roles are easier and they actually do less of the work themselves. [Second sentence of answer is incorrect/has a misconception.]

How are the points totalled and how do I earn a passing score?

After scoring your exam, the evaluators will assign a presentation score, which makes up the remaining five points of
your overall 100-point exam total. This wholistic evaluation takes into account spelling, punctuation, grammar and usage.

Spelling, punctuation, grammar, usage
5 — no more than two errors
4 — three to four errors
3 — five to six errors
2 — seven to nine errors
1 — 10 or more errors

The Journalism Education Association’s primary mission is to support journalism teachers and advisers. The Certification
Commission believes that support is rooted in a comprehensive exam measuring basic knowledge and application of the JEA teaching standards. Of those, the law and ethics standards are the foundation upon which all scholastic journalism programs are built. Therefore, those questions on this exam are more heavily weighted.

In addition, the Commission has determined that passing the law and ethics questions is essential for earning Certification. Candidates must score 75 percent or higher from the law and ethics questions—in both multiple choice and short answer sections—to pass. Your cumulative score must also be 75 percent or higher to earn Certification.

What if I don’t pass the law and ethics part but score well on everything else?

You may take an alternate version of the law and ethics questions within one year for a small administrative fee. You will not have to retake the other parts of the test if you earned a 75 percent or higher in those areas.

When will I receive my results?

You will receive the results of the exam and your CJE status within four weeks after you take the exam. You will not receive your scored answers. If you do not pass the exam, you will receive a list of specific areas in which your answers were not satisfactory and in which you need additional study.

What are some resources I can use to help me prepare?

Visit the JEA Bookstore to get these—and other—resources.

• Law of the Student Press. 3rd ed. Arlington, Va.: Student Press Law Center, 2008
• Newspaper Guidebook, National Scholastic Press Association
• Yearbook Guidebook, National Scholastic Press Association
• Scholastic Newspaper Fundamentals, Columbia Scholastic Press Association
• Scholastic Yearbook Fundamentals, Columbia Scholastic Press Association
• The AP Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, 2009
• Quill & Scroll Newspaper and Newsmagazine Evaluation Scorebook, Quill and Scroll

Web sites

• JEA Curriculum Committee
  
• JEA Digital Media
• JEA Press Rights Commission
  
• Student Press Law Center