Problems with these Exercises using Internet Explorer or Vista

IE7 may not display these exercises properly without changing one or more settings in IE7.

How to tell if you are having a problem:

  1. You do not see the log-in window that asks for your name.
  2. After completing an exercise, you do not receive a Thanks page with your score.
  3. The questions will not display.
  4. When you click Show All Questions, nothing happens.
  5. You do not see Google ads on the main page.
  6. At the bottom of the main page, you do not see an Amazon Honor System box.

1. Enable Javascript in IE7

Check your browser to be sure that javascript has been enabled. Here is a website showing how to do that.


2. Reset Security Level to Medium

  1. To reset the Security level, go to Tools (on the upper right corner of your screen) and choose Internet Options.
  2. In Internet Options, click the Security tab.
  3. Near the middle of the screen, you'll see a section labeled "Security level for this zone." Move the slider down to Medium.
  4. Click Apply.  Then click OK.

When we make this change, the exercises seem to appear correctly. If you continue to have difficulties, please let us know.

If the Medium-High setting on IE7 works on other sites you use, you might want to reset to that level when you are finished with Newsroom 101.


3. Set Google Toolbar to Accept Popups from Newsroom101.com

  1. Open a Newsroom101.com exercise that you are having trouble with.
  2. In the middle of the Google toolbar at the top of your browser window, look for a red symbol with the word "blocked" by it. This is Toolbar's popup blocker.
  3. Click that symbol so that it turns white and the text reads "Popups okay."
  4. Click Refresh (the rounded up-and-down arrows to the right of the URL box).
  5. The program should now open a small screen that asks for your name. This means you are ready to go!

4. If you run VISTA: Reset one Internet Explorer Security Setting

To reset the Security level,

  1. go to Tools (on the upper right corner of your screen) and choose Internet Options.
  2. In Internet Options, click the Security tab.
  3. Click Custom Level.
  4. Scroll to the end of the window that appears. Find the item, "Allow websites to prompt for information using scripted windows." Enable this option.
  5. Click OK in this window, and, if necessary, in the original window.

A Simple Solution: Download and use Firefox as your Browser

Firefox is a free web browser that works with Newsroom 101 exercises. The software used in these exercises was tested on Firefox.

You can download Firefox here.

Newsroom 101