Journalism & Media Glossary (correct answers)
AAP (Australian Associated Press correct answers an industry-owned, Australian-based
agency supplying news for a fee to the media.
active proceedings correct answers Legal proceedings are said to be active - with
constraints on reporting, such as contempt laws - when a person has been arrested or
charged, or a warrant or summons has been issued.
ABC (Audit Bureaux of Circulations) correct answers industry-owned companies which
audit (and verify) print media circulation figures.
The ABCe (Audit Bureau of Circulations Electronic) audits traffic figures for online
publications. Also: (2) Australian Broadcasting Corporation, (3) the American
Broadcasting Company, (4) the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation (Japan) and (5) the
Associated Broadcasting Company (Philippines).
actuality correct answers In radio, the sound of something actually happening, people
speaking etc. Can also mean specifically audio material recorded out of the studio on
location, either voices or other sounds such as ambient noise. Sometimes called a
sound bite. In television sometimes called sync.
ad correct answers Short for advertisement.
add correct answers Additional copy, to be added to a story already written.
ad-lib correct answers Unscripted talking, usually by a broadcaster. From the Latin ad
libitum 'at one's pleasure'.
advance correct answers (1) A story looking ahead to a future event. (2) To bring a
story forward in a bulletin or earlier in a newspaper. (3) An up-front payment for
commissioned work, such as a longer article or a book.
advertorial correct answers An advertisement written in the style of a news item or
feature, often provided by the publisher to complement adverts sold on that page.
Ethically, advertorials should be clearly identified as such.
advocacy journalism correct answers A type of journalism in which journalists openly
and intentionally takes sides on issues and express their opinions in reporting. It
attempts to be factually based and is not to be confused with badly-practised objective
journalism or propaganda.
all caps correct answers A printing instruction to set a word or sentence using all capital
letters.
,ambiance or ambient sound correct answers The background sound in a place where a
recording is made, e.g. traffic in a street interview. See also atmos.
analogue television and analogue radio correct answers The original method of
transmitting television or radio signals using radio waves, increasingly being replaced by
higher quality digital broadcasting (television and radio), transmitted in a digital data
stream.
anchor correct answers A person who presents a news bulletin from a television studio,
usually on a regular basis. See also newsreader and presenter.
angle correct answers Short for news angle, it is that aspect of a story which a journalist
chooses to highlight and develop. Usually the most newsworthy of its key points. Also
called hook or peg.
AP correct answers Associated Press, the world's largest independent news agency
supplying news services for a fee to media around the world.
AP Stylebook correct answers Associated Press Stylebook, a standard reference
source for American journalists on word usage and spelling, including names in the
news.
assignment correct answers A job given to a journalist by an editorial supervisor, such
as a news editor.
atmos correct answers Short for atmosphere, this is background noise recorded on
location. In television it is sometimes also called actuality. Sometimes called ambient
sound.
attribute correct answers To identify who said something, either as a quote or as
reported speech. Attribution is important to maintain credibility.
audit correct answers An independent assessment of the accuracy of newspaper sales
and circulation figures, especially so advertisers can decide where to place their
business. See ABC above.
Autocue correct answers A system of lenses, mirrors and angled glass in front of a
studio television camera lens which displays a newsreader's script as a scrolling image
so they can read it without looking down at their script. Also known as a Teleprompter.
back announcement correct answers In broadcasting, when the presenter gives viewers
or listeners brief information about something they have just watched or heard, for
example the name of the reporter or of the piece of music which was just played.
back bench correct answers American term for senior production journalists on a
newspaper.
,background correct answers (1) Information which is not part of the news event but
which helps to explain more about the situation and the story. (2) Another name, usually
US, for off-the-record. A backgrounder is the story written.
balance correct answers A basic journalism principle of giving both sides of an
argument in a fair way so readers or listeners can make up their own mind.
bandwidth correct answers Quantity of data that can be transferred along cables or
through wireless connections, including transmission or the Internet. Measured in bits
per second (digital) or hertz (analogue).
banner correct answers A headline stretching across the width of a page, usually at the
top. Also called a streamer.
BARB correct answers Broadcasters' Audience Research Board, which compiles
television ratings (viewer) statistics in the United Kingdom.
BBC correct answers British Broadcasting Corporation, Britain's national broadcaster.
beat correct answers (US) A specialist area of journalism that a reporter regularly
covers, such as police or health. See also round.
bidirectional mic correct answers A microphone which picks up sound from two
directions, front and rear. Compare with omnidirectional and unidirectional microphones.
bill correct answers Short for 'newspaper billboard'. A large sheet of paper on a board
placed where newspapers or magazines are sold, with eye-catching headline text or
graphics promoting a story in that edition.
blind interview correct answers A published interview where the interviewee is not
named, e.g. 'a senior official', sometimes called non-attributable. See also off-the-
record. Also, to conduct an interview not knowing the subject matter.
blob correct answers A bullet point in type , used in text layout to list points or to make a
separate point at the end of a story.
blockline correct answers A caption for a photograph.
blog correct answers Short for web log, an online commentary or diary often written by
individuals about their specialist interests, hobbies, family etc.
blogger correct answers A person who writes a blog. They can be professional
commentators or amateur Internet users.
blogosphere correct answers Collective name for the medium of bloggers.
, blooper correct answers See out-take below.
blurb correct answers Brief information about the writer, usually either at the top or
bottom of the article.
body type correct answers The style of newspaper type used in the body of a story, not
in headlines, where it is called display type.
box correct answers (1) The solid frame put around a print story to give it prominence.
(2) The short article inside the box frame, often associated with some aspect of a major
story on the same page. Also called a breakout. See also sidebar.
box brackets correct answers See square brackets.
break correct answers (1) A story that is first published while the event is still
happening. Sometimes called breaking news. (2) A short news bulletin which intrrupts a
radio or television program to bring the latest news. See news break.
breakout correct answers See box above.
bridge correct answers Music or sound effects used to link one item to the next.
broadcast correct answers Transmission to a large number of people by radio or
television.
broadsheet correct answers A large format newspaper, usually measuring at least 56
cm (22 inches) long. Also used to describe more serious, less sensational styles of
newspaper journalism. Compare with tabloid.
bulletin correct answers A organised collection of news stories broadcast on radio or
television at a regular time. Can also include elements such as sports reports, stock
market information, weather reports etc. In US, more commonly called a newscast.
bump correct answers To move the position of a story, either up or down the scale of
priority or position in a bulletin.
byline correct answers The writer's name, printed at the beginning or end of an article.
cable television correct answers A TV service delivered into the home through a cable,
usually for a fee. A form of pay TV. Compare with terrestrial television and satellite
television.
call-out correct answers See pull-out quote.
cans correct answers Headset or headphones.
AAP (Australian Associated Press correct answers an industry-owned, Australian-based
agency supplying news for a fee to the media.
active proceedings correct answers Legal proceedings are said to be active - with
constraints on reporting, such as contempt laws - when a person has been arrested or
charged, or a warrant or summons has been issued.
ABC (Audit Bureaux of Circulations) correct answers industry-owned companies which
audit (and verify) print media circulation figures.
The ABCe (Audit Bureau of Circulations Electronic) audits traffic figures for online
publications. Also: (2) Australian Broadcasting Corporation, (3) the American
Broadcasting Company, (4) the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation (Japan) and (5) the
Associated Broadcasting Company (Philippines).
actuality correct answers In radio, the sound of something actually happening, people
speaking etc. Can also mean specifically audio material recorded out of the studio on
location, either voices or other sounds such as ambient noise. Sometimes called a
sound bite. In television sometimes called sync.
ad correct answers Short for advertisement.
add correct answers Additional copy, to be added to a story already written.
ad-lib correct answers Unscripted talking, usually by a broadcaster. From the Latin ad
libitum 'at one's pleasure'.
advance correct answers (1) A story looking ahead to a future event. (2) To bring a
story forward in a bulletin or earlier in a newspaper. (3) An up-front payment for
commissioned work, such as a longer article or a book.
advertorial correct answers An advertisement written in the style of a news item or
feature, often provided by the publisher to complement adverts sold on that page.
Ethically, advertorials should be clearly identified as such.
advocacy journalism correct answers A type of journalism in which journalists openly
and intentionally takes sides on issues and express their opinions in reporting. It
attempts to be factually based and is not to be confused with badly-practised objective
journalism or propaganda.
all caps correct answers A printing instruction to set a word or sentence using all capital
letters.
,ambiance or ambient sound correct answers The background sound in a place where a
recording is made, e.g. traffic in a street interview. See also atmos.
analogue television and analogue radio correct answers The original method of
transmitting television or radio signals using radio waves, increasingly being replaced by
higher quality digital broadcasting (television and radio), transmitted in a digital data
stream.
anchor correct answers A person who presents a news bulletin from a television studio,
usually on a regular basis. See also newsreader and presenter.
angle correct answers Short for news angle, it is that aspect of a story which a journalist
chooses to highlight and develop. Usually the most newsworthy of its key points. Also
called hook or peg.
AP correct answers Associated Press, the world's largest independent news agency
supplying news services for a fee to media around the world.
AP Stylebook correct answers Associated Press Stylebook, a standard reference
source for American journalists on word usage and spelling, including names in the
news.
assignment correct answers A job given to a journalist by an editorial supervisor, such
as a news editor.
atmos correct answers Short for atmosphere, this is background noise recorded on
location. In television it is sometimes also called actuality. Sometimes called ambient
sound.
attribute correct answers To identify who said something, either as a quote or as
reported speech. Attribution is important to maintain credibility.
audit correct answers An independent assessment of the accuracy of newspaper sales
and circulation figures, especially so advertisers can decide where to place their
business. See ABC above.
Autocue correct answers A system of lenses, mirrors and angled glass in front of a
studio television camera lens which displays a newsreader's script as a scrolling image
so they can read it without looking down at their script. Also known as a Teleprompter.
back announcement correct answers In broadcasting, when the presenter gives viewers
or listeners brief information about something they have just watched or heard, for
example the name of the reporter or of the piece of music which was just played.
back bench correct answers American term for senior production journalists on a
newspaper.
,background correct answers (1) Information which is not part of the news event but
which helps to explain more about the situation and the story. (2) Another name, usually
US, for off-the-record. A backgrounder is the story written.
balance correct answers A basic journalism principle of giving both sides of an
argument in a fair way so readers or listeners can make up their own mind.
bandwidth correct answers Quantity of data that can be transferred along cables or
through wireless connections, including transmission or the Internet. Measured in bits
per second (digital) or hertz (analogue).
banner correct answers A headline stretching across the width of a page, usually at the
top. Also called a streamer.
BARB correct answers Broadcasters' Audience Research Board, which compiles
television ratings (viewer) statistics in the United Kingdom.
BBC correct answers British Broadcasting Corporation, Britain's national broadcaster.
beat correct answers (US) A specialist area of journalism that a reporter regularly
covers, such as police or health. See also round.
bidirectional mic correct answers A microphone which picks up sound from two
directions, front and rear. Compare with omnidirectional and unidirectional microphones.
bill correct answers Short for 'newspaper billboard'. A large sheet of paper on a board
placed where newspapers or magazines are sold, with eye-catching headline text or
graphics promoting a story in that edition.
blind interview correct answers A published interview where the interviewee is not
named, e.g. 'a senior official', sometimes called non-attributable. See also off-the-
record. Also, to conduct an interview not knowing the subject matter.
blob correct answers A bullet point in type , used in text layout to list points or to make a
separate point at the end of a story.
blockline correct answers A caption for a photograph.
blog correct answers Short for web log, an online commentary or diary often written by
individuals about their specialist interests, hobbies, family etc.
blogger correct answers A person who writes a blog. They can be professional
commentators or amateur Internet users.
blogosphere correct answers Collective name for the medium of bloggers.
, blooper correct answers See out-take below.
blurb correct answers Brief information about the writer, usually either at the top or
bottom of the article.
body type correct answers The style of newspaper type used in the body of a story, not
in headlines, where it is called display type.
box correct answers (1) The solid frame put around a print story to give it prominence.
(2) The short article inside the box frame, often associated with some aspect of a major
story on the same page. Also called a breakout. See also sidebar.
box brackets correct answers See square brackets.
break correct answers (1) A story that is first published while the event is still
happening. Sometimes called breaking news. (2) A short news bulletin which intrrupts a
radio or television program to bring the latest news. See news break.
breakout correct answers See box above.
bridge correct answers Music or sound effects used to link one item to the next.
broadcast correct answers Transmission to a large number of people by radio or
television.
broadsheet correct answers A large format newspaper, usually measuring at least 56
cm (22 inches) long. Also used to describe more serious, less sensational styles of
newspaper journalism. Compare with tabloid.
bulletin correct answers A organised collection of news stories broadcast on radio or
television at a regular time. Can also include elements such as sports reports, stock
market information, weather reports etc. In US, more commonly called a newscast.
bump correct answers To move the position of a story, either up or down the scale of
priority or position in a bulletin.
byline correct answers The writer's name, printed at the beginning or end of an article.
cable television correct answers A TV service delivered into the home through a cable,
usually for a fee. A form of pay TV. Compare with terrestrial television and satellite
television.
call-out correct answers See pull-out quote.
cans correct answers Headset or headphones.
