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Journalism & Media vocabulary · Media Ethics and Law

Accuracy

Meaning in journalism & media, with examples

/ˈækjərəsi/nounCore term

In journalism & media, accuracy means: The quality of being correct in every fact, name, number and quote, which is the first duty of a journalist in most codes of practice.

In Turkish: doğruluk, isabet, hatasızlık

How it is used

Appears in ethics codes, editorial guidelines and complaints: commitment to accuracy, a breach of accuracy. The adjective accurate is very common: an accurate report, accurately quoted. Speed and accuracy are often described as competing pressures.

Example sentences

  1. In breaking news, accuracy is more important than being first.

  2. The complaint questioned the accuracy of the figures in our report.

Common collocations

  • commitment to accuracy
  • check for accuracy
  • factual accuracy
  • accuracy and fairness
  • fact-checkTo check whether the names, numbers, dates and claims in a story or statement are correct before or after it is published; as a noun, the check itself.
  • verifyTo check carefully that information, a photo, a video or a source is real and true before you use or publish it.
  • correctionA short published note that admits and fixes a mistake in an earlier story, such as a wrong name, figure or quote.
  • objectivityThe principle of reporting facts as they are, without letting the journalist's own feelings, opinions or interests shape the story.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Media Ethics and Law

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