The Nieman Lab News-About-News Quiz: October 30, 2026
For decades now, news publishers have been yammering on about “gamifying” the news. But what about gamifying the news about the news?
Welcome to the Nieman Lab News-About-News Quiz, a weekly incentive to keep up with the latest happenings in the world of digital journalism. All questions will be based on the week’s Nieman Lab stories or articles elsewhere that we’ve linked to in What We’re Reading. (And unlike other ways of gamifying news events, we promise not to bankrupt anybody.)
The quiz will appear here for the next four Fridays as a trial run; if people seem to like it, we’ll keep it going in 2027. Good luck!
0 of 10 answered
1 of 10
Among journalists, what has been controversial about Secrets, Bob Woodward’s upcoming memoir?
Is it okay to unveil anonymous sources just because they’ve died?
2 of 10
Which U.S. senator described Meta’s new proposed terms of service as “a gross abuse of its power”?
U.S. Senate “Meta must not nullify federal IP protections and fair market competition through the unilateral insertion of fine print into terms of service contracts.”
3 of 10
Which Italian news outlet is launching a U.S. operation aimed at covering Italian-American communities?
Its editor-in-chief aims to eventually “have a very large network of people writing for us from every single one of the 50 states.”
4 of 10
Instagram is considering allowing users extra-long videos on its platform. How long, exactly?
It’s being tested with some users in Brazil and the United States.
5 of 10
“PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. Oh, wait, you already did. Ok, I’m out.” What is this New York Times commenter opposed to?
Or, as another commenter put it, “I am sad that AI has breached the one online resource I truly love.”
6 of 10
A study found that adding information about sources to news videos increased what?
“The most significant findings were an increase in perception of transparency when the reporting process label was used on a polarizing story and an investigative story.”
7 of 10
Former 60 Minutes boss Bill Owens just joined an online startup. Which one?
“These guys have millions of followers in a demographic that I’ve been chasing for decades…My kids are 23 and 24. This is where they find their news and information.”
8 of 10
A new study aims to reframe a term popularized by Penny Abernathy to describe a place with few or no local news outlets. What is that term?
The report notes the “wells” and “springs” popping up in these “deserts.”
9 of 10
An Egyptian court has ordered what prominent independent news outlet shut down?
“Reporters Without Borders said the court’s decision was ‘outrageous’ and ‘shameful,’ urging authorities to release editor-in-chief Lina Attalah ‘at once.’”
10 of 10
Zack Addy is upset at his lack of success as a freelance journalist: “Over three months I sent roughly nineteen cold emails to editors, publications, and possible clients. One human reply. Zero paid work came from any of them.” What’s one reason Addy may have struggled to sell stories?
“There’s not a world where I would ever consider taking one of these pitches,” says one editor about the recent boom in freelance story pitches coming from AI-powered bots.
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