Journalism & Media Vocabulary: 192 Key English Terms

A person, document or organisation that gives a journalist information for a story; also the place where a piece of information comes from.

An official written announcement that a company, institution or person sends to journalists to share news and encourage them to report it.

A meeting arranged by a person or organisation where they make an announcement to journalists and usually answer their questions.

An important or exciting story that one journalist or outlet publishes before any of its competitors; as a verb, to beat rivals to a story.

An organisation that collects news, photos and video and sells or supplies them to newspapers, broadcasters and websites, which then publish them.

A person who gives information to a journalist on the condition that their name is not published, usually because they could lose their job or be in danger.

A piece of secret or early information given to a journalist or the police about something that has happened or is going to happen.

An agreement that journalists will not publish information they have received in advance until a stated date and time.

An official card or badge that shows someone is a working journalist and allows them into events, courts or areas closed to the public.

A person who saw an event, such as an accident, crime or disaster, with their own eyes and can describe what happened.

A person whose job is to speak to the media on behalf of an organisation, company, government body or public figure.

An official announcement, written or spoken, in which a person or organisation gives information or their position on something.

A local specialist who helps visiting journalists arrange access, contacts and practical reporting support.

A small group of journalists who cover a restricted event on behalf of a larger group of outlets.

A crowded encounter in which several reporters surround a person and compete to ask questions.

An arranged occasion intended to let the media photograph a person or activity.

An event staged mainly to attract media coverage rather than to accomplish an independent purpose.

The release of a large volume of documents together for examination by journalists or the public.

Journalistic investigation in which the reporter conceals their professional identity to obtain information.

A reporter attached to a military unit and accompanying it during operations.

A controlled session in which journalists examine budget documents before release while publication or outside communication is restricted.

A photograph supplied to the media by an outside organisation or person rather than produced by the reporting outlet.

A person whose job is to gather, write, edit or present news and information for newspapers, websites, radio, television or other media.

A journalist whose main job is to find out what is happening, talk to people, collect facts and write or broadcast news stories about it.

A single piece of reporting about a recent event or issue, published in print or online or broadcast on radio or television.

News about an important event that is happening right now or has only just happened, reported as soon as it is known and updated as more details come in.

The way the media report an event or subject, and how much attention they give it, in print, online or on air.

A reporter who is based in a particular city or country, or who specialises in one subject, and sends regular reports from there or about it.

The line at the top or bottom of an article that gives the name of the journalist who wrote it, sometimes with their job title or location.

The opening sentence or paragraph of a news story, which gives the most important facts and makes the reader want to continue.

The subject, institution or area that a reporter covers regularly, such as health, education, crime, the courts or city hall.

Interesting or important enough to be reported as news, for example because it is new, unusual, local, surprising or affects many people.

A way of writing news in which the most important facts come first and the less important details follow, so the story can be cut from the bottom.

The basic questions every news story should answer: who, what, when, where and why, usually with how added as well.

The particular point of view or focus a journalist chooses for a story, which decides which facts and voices come first.

A new story that reports later developments of an event already covered, such as the results of an investigation or how people's lives changed.

A replacement version of a developing story that incorporates fresh information throughout the text.

A paragraph explaining the central point and significance of a story after its opening.

A timely event or development that gives a publication a reason to run a story now.

A memorable ending to a news feature, often a revealing quotation or detail.

A journalist who decides what is published or broadcast and checks, corrects and improves other people's work; also the person in charge of a whole publication or section.

The office where journalists and editors of a newspaper, broadcaster or news website work together to gather, write and publish the news; also the team itself.

The latest time by which a story, photo or programme item must be finished and handed in so that it can be published or broadcast.

The text of a news story or article that a journalist writes and sends to be edited and published.

The most senior editor of a newspaper, magazine, broadcaster or website, who is responsible for all its content and editorial decisions.

An editor who checks and corrects reporters' text for accuracy, grammar, style and length, and often writes headlines and captions.

A newsroom list of planned stories with information such as length, priority and readiness.

The newsroom team that coordinates reporting assignments and monitors incoming information.

The space available for editorial material after advertisements and other fixed elements are allocated.

Reading incoming news reports to judge their importance and suitability for publication.

A systematic review of the people and organisations quoted or consulted in an outlet's reporting.

A short working identifier used by a newsroom to track a story during production.

A page-by-page plan showing the placement of articles, advertisements and other material in a publication.

The selection and filtering processes that determine which information reaches an audience.

The title printed above a news story in large letters, or written at the top of an online article, that tells readers quickly what the story is about.

The first page of a newspaper, where the most important stories and pictures of the day appear; also the home page of a news website.

A short piece of text under or next to a photo, chart or video that explains what it shows, who is in it and sometimes who took it.

A short introductory sentence or paragraph between a headline and the article, usually in bold or larger type, that summarises the story.

Used to show that something has been claimed but not yet proved, especially about a crime or wrongdoing.

Used to show who or what a piece of information comes from, so that readers know its source.

A short word for an official investigation, used especially in headlines; as a verb, to investigate something carefully.

In headlines, to criticise someone or something very strongly in public.

A short line telling readers where a newspaper story continues or where it began.

The distracting placement of adjacent newspaper headlines so that they appear connected.

A label for very late news added to a newspaper near printing time.

An article that gives the official opinion of a newspaper or magazine on an issue, usually written by senior editors and often published without a byline.

A longer article that explores a person, place, trend or issue in depth, often with description, background and human stories rather than only the latest facts.

A regular article by the same writer, usually in the same place in a newspaper, magazine or website, giving their personal views or advice.

A writer who produces a regular column for a newspaper, magazine or website, giving personal opinions, analysis or advice.

An opinion article by a named writer, often an outside expert or public figure, published on a newspaper's opinion pages or website.

Journalism that spends weeks or months uncovering hidden information, often about wrongdoing, corruption or abuse of power, using documents, data and confidential sources.

A detailed journalistic reconstruction showing how an event unfolded over time.

A separate supporting article exploring one aspect of a larger news story.

A short news item giving essential facts without the development of a full report.

Reporting that gives audiences practical information to help them act or make everyday decisions.

Reporting that investigates responses to social problems, including evidence of results and limitations.

Political coverage emphasizing who is ahead and campaign tactics rather than policy substance.

A published account of someone's life and significance following their death.

A news article or segment that makes a complicated issue understandable by answering its central questions.

Reporting that interprets the meaning and implications of events using evidence and informed assessment.

A compact presentation of key facts accompanying or supplementing a news report.

A report published before an event to introduce what is expected and why it matters.

A strongly subjective form of journalism in which the reporter becomes a central participant in the account.

Journalism that openly supports a cause or position while reporting on it.

Conflict reporting that examines causes, human consequences and possibilities for nonviolent responses.

Journalism that prioritises time for investigation, context and reflection over immediate publication.

A meeting or conversation in which a journalist asks someone questions to get information, opinions or quotes for a story or programme; also the published or broadcast result.

The exact words that someone said or wrote, repeated in a story inside quotation marks; as a verb, to repeat someone's words and say who said them.

Said privately to a journalist on the understanding that it will not be published, or at least not linked to the person who said it.

Said in a way that can be published and openly attributed to the person who said it, using their name and position.

Given on the understanding that the information can be published but the source will not be named, only described in general terms.

A set of very short interviews with ordinary people in a public place, asking them all the same question about a current topic.

The person who answers the questions in an interview, as opposed to the interviewer, who asks them.

A written or printed copy of exactly what was said in an interview, speech, broadcast or recording.

A phrase people use when they refuse to answer a journalist's question or give any opinion on a subject.

An arrangement that lets a source approve quoted words before publication.

Selecting fragments of someone's words so that they misleadingly support a different meaning.

A preliminary conversation used to assess and prepare a guest before a recorded or live interview.

Approaching someone for an interview at a doorway or other location without a prior appointment.

A journalist's approach to bereaved relatives to seek information or an interview after a death.

Interviewing that takes account of trauma and seeks to reduce avoidable distress and loss of control.

An interview conducted over a remote connection with the guest in another location.

The main presenter of a television or radio news programme, who introduces the stories, links to reporters and often interviews guests live.

A 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.

A person who introduces and leads a radio or television programme, speaking to the audience, linking items and talking to guests.

Being broadcast on radio or television at this moment; as an adjective, describing people or things heard or seen during a broadcast.

Recorded film or video of an event, used in news reports, documentaries or programmes.

A short programme on radio or television that gives the latest news at a regular time, such as every hour or in the evening.

Figures that show how many people watched a television programme or listened to a radio show, used to compare programmes and set advertising prices.

A short, memorable phrase or clip taken from a longer speech or interview and used in a news report.

The evening hours when the largest number of people watch television, and when channels show their most popular programmes and charge the most for adverts.

A broadcast exchange in which a presenter questions a reporter about a story.

Calculating backwards from a fixed broadcast end or junction to establish when items must start.

The final words or sound of a recorded item used to signal its ending to the production team.

Recorded in the manner of a live broadcast for transmission later.

A self-contained edited broadcast report combining narration with recorded material.

A radio report spoken by a reporter without inserted interview clips.

Sound recorded at the scene and used to convey the real setting of a report.

A strip of short news updates moving or changing across a television screen.

A live addition by a reporter after a recorded package, often giving the newest information.

A presenter's brief information about an item immediately after it has been broadcast.

A system on a news website that lets only paying subscribers read some or all of its articles.

Online headlines or content designed mainly to make people click, often by exaggerating, hiding the key fact or promising more than the story gives.

To spread very quickly and widely on the internet as people share it again and again, usually on social media and messaging apps.

A single web page that a news site updates continuously during a developing event, adding short timed posts, quotes, photos and videos.

A regular email, or sometimes printed sheet, that sends a selection of news, articles or updates directly to people who have signed up for it.

A series of audio, or sometimes video, episodes that people can download or stream online and listen to whenever they want.

News reporting by ordinary people who are not professional journalists, often using their phones to record and share events they witness.

Photos, videos, posts and other material created by members of the public rather than by journalists, which news outlets may verify and use.

Deliberately limiting or avoiding contact with news.

Reporting focused on a very small geographical area such as a neighbourhood.

An article organised as a list of numbered or separately headed items.

Content presented as independent local news while obscuring partisan or commercial interests behind its production.

The right of journalists and media to collect and publish information and opinions without censorship, threats or control by the state or other powerful groups.

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.

The principle of reporting facts as they are, without letting the journalist's own feelings, opinions or interests shape the story.

An unfair preference for or against a person, group or idea that affects how a story is chosen, written or presented.

The legal wrong of publishing or saying false statements about someone that damage their reputation.

Defamation in a permanent form, such as print, broadcast or an online post, that falsely damages a person's or company's reputation.

Reporting that exaggerates or dramatises events, or focuses on shocking details, in order to attract attention rather than to inform.

The chance, or in some countries the legal right, for a person or organisation criticised in the media to answer the claims made about them.

The benefit of society as a whole, used to judge whether publishing information, especially private or secret information, is justified.

The principle, recognised in many ethics codes and laws, that journalists should not reveal the identity of confidential sources.

Using another person's words, ideas, research or images and presenting them as your own without giving credit.

A situation in which a journalist's personal, financial or family interests could influence, or seem to influence, how they report a story.

Reporting in which journalists follow one another's sources and angles instead of making independent choices.

Journalism shaped by maintaining access to powerful sources, potentially at the expense of scrutiny.

Reporting by outsiders who arrive briefly to cover an event with limited local knowledge.

Presentation that gives unequal bodies of evidence similar weight and thereby misleads the audience.

The practice of paying sources for stories or information.

A separation intended to prevent commercial interests from controlling editorial decisions.

Identifying an unnamed person by combining separate details disclosed in reporting.

A period or arrangement in which coverage of a subject is withheld or prevented.

Coverage presented as independent news even though payment has influenced its publication.

A body that considers complaints about journalistic standards and promotes responsible press practice.

To 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.

To check carefully that information, a photo, a video or a source is real and true before you use or publish it.

False or misleading information that is spread without the intention to deceive, often by people who believe it is true.

False information that is created or spread deliberately to mislead people, damage someone or influence public opinion.

False stories made to look like real news reports; the phrase is also used, sometimes unfairly, to attack reporting that someone simply dislikes.

A short published note that admits and fixes a mistake in an earlier story, such as a wrong name, figure or quote.

To show with clear evidence that a claim, rumour, theory or image is false or misleading.

A search that uses an image instead of words to find where else that image appears online and when it was first published.

A video, image or audio recording made or changed with artificial intelligence so that a real person appears to say or do something they never did.

A claim appearing to have several sources because outlets repeat one another's reporting.

Obscuring the original source of information by passing it through apparently credible intermediaries.

Evaluating an online source by leaving it to consult independent information about it.

Determining when visual material was recorded by examining time-related clues.

Genuine information used to cause harm, for example through malicious exposure of private material.

A standard for storing image metadata, including details that may describe the camera and exposure settings.

Preserving versions of web pages or other online material so they can be consulted after the live content changes.

A shortage of relevant reliable online information for a search term that can leave room for misleading material.

Newspapers, magazines and news media as a group, and the journalists who work for them; originally the printing press used to produce newspapers.

Any organisation or channel that publishes or broadcasts news and information, such as a newspaper, TV channel, radio station, magazine or news website.

A newspaper with small pages, short stories and big pictures, often focused on celebrities, crime and scandal; also a style of sensational journalism.

A newspaper printed on large pages, traditionally associated with serious news, analysis and a more formal style than tabloids.

The number of copies of a newspaper or magazine that are sold or distributed, usually counted per day, week or month.

The people who read a particular newspaper, magazine or website, or the total number of them.

A journalist, photographer or editor who is not employed by one organisation but sells their work to different outlets, usually piece by piece.

A community with little or no access to sustained original local news reporting.

A newspaper that still publishes but has lost much of its capacity for original local reporting.

A condition in which powerful interests gain influence over media and undermine independent scrutiny.

Media organised around a public-service mission to inform, educate and serve diverse audiences.

Radio organised to serve and involve a particular local community or community of interest.

Income a news organisation receives directly from its readers.

The licensed distribution of journalistic material for publication by multiple outlets.

A publication's identifying title display or, especially in American usage, its staff and publication information panel.

A protest in which journalists withhold their names from published work.

The process through which media attention influences which issues the public regards as important.

The presence of a meaningful range of independent media voices, owners and perspectives.

Relatively inexpensive paper made for printing newspapers.

An item supplied attached to or packaged with a magazine or newspaper as part of the issue.