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Journalism & Media vocabulary · News Gathering and Sources

Spokesperson

Meaning in journalism & media, with examples

/ˈspəʊkspɜːsn/nounCore term

In journalism & media, spokesperson means: A person whose job is to speak to the media on behalf of an organisation, company, government body or public figure.

In Turkish: sözcü, basın sözcüsü

How it is used

News stories often say a spokesperson for the hospital said or a police spokesperson confirmed. Spokesman and spokeswoman are also used, but many style guides prefer the neutral spokesperson. Press officers often act as spokespeople.

Example sentences

  1. A spokesperson for the airline said all passengers had been offered new flights.

  2. Call the police spokesperson and ask whether anyone has been arrested.

Common collocations

  • a spokesperson for
  • police spokesperson
  • company spokesperson
  • official spokesperson
  • statementAn official announcement, written or spoken, in which a person or organisation gives information or their position on something.
  • press releaseAn official written announcement that a company, institution or person sends to journalists to share news and encourage them to report it.
  • press conferenceA meeting arranged by a person or organisation where they make an announcement to journalists and usually answer their questions.
  • no commentA phrase people use when they refuse to answer a journalist's question or give any opinion on a subject.

This word in other fields

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

More terms: News Gathering and Sources

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