Quiz of the Day
Press & Journalism
Sunday, 3 May 2026
World Press Freedom Day — famous journalists, historic headlines, media milestones
1. What year was World Press Freedom Day established by the UN?
- 2010
- 2001
- 1983
- 1993
The date May 3 was chosen to mark the anniversary of the 1991 Windhoek Declaration, which called for press freedom in Africa. Today, only 8% of the world's population lives in countries with a truly free press.
2. What famous investigative journalism scandal brought down US President Richard Nixon?
- Iran-Contra
- Watergate
- The Pentagon Papers
- Monica Lewinsky scandal
Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein broke the story with help from a secret source called 'Deep Throat', later revealed to be FBI Deputy Director Mark Felt. Nixon resigned in August 1974.
3. What is the oldest continuously published newspaper still in circulation?
- Berrow's Worcester Journal
- Wiener Zeitung (Vienna)
- The Times (London)
- The London Gazette
Berrow's Worcester Journal traces its origins to 1690, making it over 335 years old. The first true newspaper is generally considered to be the German 'Relation' published in Strasbourg in 1605.
4. What does the term 'Fourth Estate' refer to?
- The judiciary
- The royal palace
- The press and news media
- Social media
The term was popularised by Edmund Burke in the 18th century, referring to the press as a fourth power alongside the clergy, nobility, and commons. A free press is considered essential for holding power to account in democracies.
5. Which organisation publishes the annual World Press Freedom Index?
- UNESCO
- Committee to Protect Journalists
- International Press Institute
- Reporters Without Borders
Norway consistently tops the Press Freedom Index, while countries like North Korea, Eritrea, and Turkmenistan rank at the bottom. The UK typically ranks in the mid-20s — lower than many people expect.
6. What was 'yellow journalism'?
- Journalism printed on yellow paper
- Financial reporting
- Sensationalist, exaggerated news reporting
- Wartime propaganda
Yellow journalism emerged in the 1890s rivalry between Joseph Pulitzer's New York World and William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal. Their sensationalist coverage of Cuba helped push the US into the Spanish-American War of 1898.
7. Who is considered the founder of modern investigative journalism?
- Walter Cronkite
- Edward R. Murrow
- Ida Tarbell
- Nellie Bly
In 1887, Bly had herself committed to a mental asylum to expose horrific conditions. Her undercover report led to major reforms. She also raced around the world in 72 days, beating Jules Verne's fictional 80-day record.
8. What does 'freedom of the press' protect?
- The right to print anything without consequence
- The right of media to report news without government censorship
- The right to photograph anyone
- The right to access classified information
Freedom of the press is protected by the First Amendment in the US and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. However, it's not absolute — defamation, incitement to violence, and national security concerns can limit it.
9. What famous headline announced the end of WWII in Europe?
- V-E Day - It's All Over!
- Victory!
- Peace at Last!
- War is Over!
On May 8, 1945, newspapers worldwide carried banner headlines about Victory in Europe. The iconic Daily Mirror front page read 'VE-DAY! It's All Over!' Some papers ran special editions within minutes of the announcement.
10. How many journalists were killed worldwide in 2023?
- About 200
- About 45
- About 20
- About 99
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 99 journalists and media workers were killed in 2023. Over 75% of journalist murders go unpunished. The deadliest countries change year to year but conflict zones are consistently the most dangerous.
11. What was the first major news event broadcast live on television?
- The Moon landing
- The fall of the Berlin Wall
- JFK's assassination coverage
- The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
BBC's live broadcast of Elizabeth II's coronation on June 2, 1953 was watched by 27 million people in the UK — more than the country's population at the time, as people crowded around neighbours' televisions.
12. What is a 'whistleblower' in journalism?
- Someone who exposes wrongdoing within an organisation
- A fact-checker
- A sports reporter
- A news anchor
Famous whistleblowers include Edward Snowden (NSA surveillance), Daniel Ellsberg (Pentagon Papers), and Frances Haugen (Facebook). Many countries have whistleblower protection laws, but enforcement varies widely.
13. Which Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph from 1972 helped turn public opinion against the Vietnam War?
- The Napalm Girl
- Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
- Migrant Mother
- Tank Man
Nick Ut's photo of 9-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc running naked after a napalm attack became one of the most powerful anti-war images ever taken. Phuc survived and now lives in Canada as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
14. What revolutionary technology did Johannes Gutenberg develop around 1440 that transformed the spread of information?
- The movable type printing press
- The telegraph
- The typewriter
- Paper manufacturing
Gutenberg's press could produce 3,600 pages per day compared to about 40 by hand copying. It led to an explosion of literacy, the Protestant Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, and ultimately modern journalism.
15. What is 'citizen journalism'?
- Journalism about citizenship issues
- Journalism by government officials
- Local community newsletters
- News reporting by ordinary people, often via social media
Citizen journalism exploded with smartphones and social media. The 2009 Iranian election protests were documented almost entirely by citizens with phones. The term was popularised after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami when tourist footage became primary news sources.