Okuzeka
Journalism & Media vocabulary · Radio and Television News

On air

Meaning in journalism & media, with examples

phraseCore term

In journalism & media, on air means: Being broadcast on radio or television at this moment; as an adjective, describing people or things heard or seen during a broadcast.

In Turkish: yayında, canlı yayında

How it is used

Studios have an on-air light that shows when microphones are live. People go on air, come off air, or are taken off air. Before a noun it is hyphenated: on-air talent, an on-air apology.

Example sentences

  1. We go on air in two minutes, so please switch off your phones.

  2. The host made an on-air apology for the wrong figures.

Common collocations

  • go on air
  • off air
  • on-air presenter
  • on-air apology
  • taken off air
  • broadcastA programme sent out on television, radio or the internet for the public; as a verb, to send out such a programme or to make information widely known.
  • presenterA person who introduces and leads a radio or television programme, speaking to the audience, linking items and talking to guests.
  • news bulletinA short programme on radio or television that gives the latest news at a regular time, such as every hour or in the evening.
  • prime timeThe evening hours when the largest number of people watch television, and when channels show their most popular programmes and charge the most for adverts.

More terms: Radio and Television News

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