LIMBA ENGLEZA

I. D. D.

TUTORAT 1

SEMESTRUL 1

THE LANGUAGE
OF
MASS COMUMUNICATION

Lector drd. Ramona Mihåilå

Glossary of terms used in Journalism

ABC = Audit Bureau of Circulation – a body that authenticates the circulation of

newspapers and periodicals, source of circulation figures
access provider = a company that sells Internet connections (also known as an
Internet
Access Provider or Internet Service Provider)
ad = abbreviation for advertisement
add = any matter added to a news story at the end. See“Insert”.
advance = in press association parlance, a story transmitted some
time prior to its intended use. For instance, a story transmitted to newspapers on
Monday or Tuesday, but intended for use on the following Sunday. Also,
frequently, any story written ahead for later use. Also a story written before an
event.
advertorial = advertisement presented as editorial
agony aunt = women who offer advice to people who write in to newspapers with
personal / emotional problems. Agony uncle is the male equivalent.
alignment = the correct leveling of the characters in a line of text, or of text and
pictures
alternative press = loose term incorporating wide variety of non-mainstream
newspapers. It can include left press (Tribune, Socialist Worker), religious press
(Catholic Herald, Church Times), ethnic press (Asian Times, The Voice),
municipal
press, trade unions publications
ambush interview = when an interviewee is surprised by suddenly different line of
questioning or by the sudden appearance of journalist (or group of journalists). It
is theatrical on television. It is done when reporters are convinced they are
talking
to a hypocrite person who does not want to reveal some facts.
angle = main point stressed in story usually in intro. US: peg
AP = Associated Press news agency
apology = a newspaper may admit to error and publish correction in apology.
Complaint
can still claim libel in court and publication of apology provides no defense for
newspaper. But if newspaper loses case, fact that it took prompt and adequate
steps
to correct error and to express regret provides plea in mitigation of damages
tending to reduce the size of damage awarded
art (artwork) = illustrations accompanying copy. (photographs, line drawings or
graphics) See “Graphics”.
ascender = the part of a lower case letter rising above its body; the upper limb of a
“b”
or a “d”
assignment = any duty given to a reporter, usually a story to cover or write.
asterisk = * occasionally used in text to link footnote or to indicate letters of words
considered obscene
as to press = proofs showing final positioning of color material
attachment / internship (US) = time spent by student journalists training (or
occasionally just observing) at media organization

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attribution = the source of a news story or of a fact within a story. To attribute is to
indicate the source of a story or fact and thus give the information authenticity.
author’s corrections = alterations made by the editorial department on proofs, other
than those necessitated by printers’ errors

back bench (the) = senior newspaper journalists who make key production decision
background = anything added to or inserted in a news story to explain earlier actions
or
events; facts intended to refresh the reader’s memory about earlier actions or
events.
It varies in length and positioning though most new stories will contain only
small
amount of background detail while length of features often allows them to carry
longer back sections
backgrounder = explanatory feature to accompany news story.
back issue = previous issue of paper
back margin = the margin of a page nearest to the spine
back numbers = previous issues of a publication
back of the book = pages after the center spread of a periodical
back-up copy = duplicate of a computer disc, made in case of accidental damage to
the
original
bad break = unattractive breaking of a word between two lines
banner (headline) = one in large type across front page
baron = newspaper proprietor. Other words: mogul, magnate, boss
bastard measure = a non-standard width of text
beat = a particular area of news assigned to a reporter, for example, the culture beat or
the courthouse beat .
bill / billboard = poster promoting newspaper, usually highlighting main news story
binder = a folder designed to hold collected issues of a magazine or part-work
bleed = (of an page) go beyond the type area to the edge of the page
blind lead = a lead in which a person is identified but not named until the second or
third
paragraph.
blob par = paragraph introduced by blob/ bullet point
block = a zinc or copper plate on which is etched or engraved a line or halftone
illustration
blow-up = an enlargement of part or all of a picture
blurb = another name for standfirst or similar displayed copy
body = the main part of a news story. Sometimes called the development
boil down = implies close paring of all sentences and the sacrifice of minor facts.
Length
of the story is substantially reduced.
bold = thick black type use for emphasis
box = copy with rules around all four sides
breaking news = unexpected, unplanned occurrences, for example, a plane crash. A
story that must be covered quickly and without any advance preparation.
brief = a short item of news often of just one par, but occasionally up to four or five
pars.
Other names: snip / nib / bright / filler
= short advice given to journalist before they cover a story
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bridge = a transitional device for carrying the reader from the lead into the body of
the
story or from one part of the story to another. The bridge can be a word, a
sentence
or several sentences.
brief = a short news story, usually two or three paragraphs long.
Newspapers often collect related short stories under a single head, for instance,
Financial Briefs.
broadsheet = large-format newspaper such as the Times
bureau = newspaper office in foreign country
byline = the line that indicates who wrote the a story, for example, “By James
Donne”.
Bylines are usually used on above-average stories, not on routine copy.

calls = routine phone calls by reporters to organizations such as police and fire
brigade
campaigning journalism = overtly partisan journalism promoting particular cause
caps = capital letters
caption = words accompanying any picture or artwork. Basic details are supplied by
photographer. A caption amounting to a small story is a caption story.
catchline = single word identifying story typed top right on every page
centre spread = middle opening of tabloid or magazine
character = unit of measurement for type including letters, figures, punctuation
marks
and spaces
chequebook journalism = paying large sums for stories
city desk = financial section of British newspaper (U.S. home news desk )
clippings/clips: press cuttings
colour piece = news story written as feature with emphasis on Journalist’s reactions
copy = anything written for publication. A news story.
copy-editing marks = symbols used to indicate corrections or changes in news copy.
Copy-editing marks are always made at the place a change is desired, as distinct
from proofreader’s marks, which are made in the margin of a proof.
Proofreader’s
marks should never be used on copy.
copy editor = also called copyreader. A newsman who reads all copy to check for
errors,
improve the story and add instructions for the composing room. Copy editors
write
headlines and insert subheads.
curtain raiser = story which provides background to forthcoming event. Also known
as
scene-setter
cut = to eliminate all but the most important facts, those without which there .would
be
no story or an incomplete one at best.
cut-out = illustration with background masked or cut to make it stand out on the page
cuts = press cuttings
dateline = the words preceding news stories that indicate the place and, sometimes,
the
date of origin. Datelines are not used on local stories
day in the life of = profile feature focusing on particular day of subject.
deadlines = the time at which news copy is due or at which the last copy is due.
deck = one of series of headlines stacked on top of each other; a unit of headline.

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delayed drop = device in news story of delaying important facts for effect.
deskman = American term for male sub-editor
desks = departments of newspapers are often known in terms of desks; thus picture
desk,
news desk, feature desk
diary = list of news events to be covered; hence on off-diary story is one originated
by the reporter
diary column = gossip column
diary piece = article derived from routine sources (press conferences, press releases,
council meetings) listed in diary which helps news desks organize their news
gathering activities. Off-diary news are those which come from reporter’s
initiative
and from non-routine sources.
dig = to do deep research.
direct quote = a speaker’s exact words, a verbatim report enclosed in quotation
marks.
Sometimes slightly edited to improve syntax or correct grammar.
discussion list = individuals communicating through email subscribe to the list and
then
receive all messages other subscribers send to the list
doorstepping = reporters lying in wait for (usually) celebrities outside their homes
double spread = two facing pages
down style = newspaper style that tends to avoid capitalization wherever possible.
Non-
distinguishing nouns in names, for example, are not capitalized in a down style,
as
in Roosevelt hotel
dummy = 1. photocopied or printed (but not distributed) version of new publication
used
for practice and discussion
2. blank version of established publication, for example to show weight of paper
3. complete set of page proofs

edit = either to give a newspaper editorial direction or to actually carry out the steps
of
reporting, writing and preparing news for a newspaper’s pages
edition = a specific version of one issue of a newspaper, for example, a state edition
published for outlying areas or a city edition published for the newspaper’s city
and
suburban readers
editor = an editor is an executive or manager who supervises the reporting, writing
and
 editing of the news. There are various categories of editors, title according to the
nature of the job: managing editor, city editor, sports editor, etc
editorial = having to do with the news side of a newspaper. Any news related matter,
for
example, an editorial decision or an editorial judgement
editorialize = to inject one’s own opinions into news copy. Traditionally, newspapers
avoid editorializing in news stories and restrict the newspaper’s opinions to the
editorial page or to signed columns
embargo = time before which an organization supplying material, e.g. by press
release,
does not want it published
exclusive = claim by newspaper or magazine that it has a story nobody else has
eye-witness reporting = presence of reporter at news event
e-zine = electronic magazine

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feature = 1. The main news angle of the story. A special point or twist to a story
2. a type of news story, sometimes called a news feature. It is usually not breaking
news. Features are often interpretative, give background, play up human interest
and convey the color of an event
3. non-news matter, e.g. comics, cartoons, horoscopes, etc., that appear regularly in
the newspaper
4. to give something prominence in a story
fireman = reporter sent to trouble spot when story breaks
flatplan = page-by-page plan of a magazine issue
follow = sometimes folo. A story that follows another, giving new facts or bringing
the
story up to date. Also, a second -day story
fount (pronounced “font” and sometimes spelt that way) = typeface
free = free newspaper
freebie = something useful or pleasant, often a trip, supplied free to journalists
freelance = self-employed journalist who sells material to various media

graphics = charts, graphs, or sketches, or combinations of these, used to illustrate and

explain a news story
gutter = space between pages in centre spread
gutter press = sometimes applied to tabloid press.

hack/hackette = jocular terms for journalist, insult word

hamper = story written horizontally usually at top of page
handout = a news story or other material prepared for distribution to newspapers,
press
associations, broadcast stations and other news outlets. The usual source is a
public
relations practitioner employed by a person, firm or group that wants a news
story
to appear in print. Handouts often need to be rewritten
heavy = broadsheet newspaper
hold = to delay use of a story. Stories are often given to newspapers for later use and
 marked “hold for release” at a given time
hole = a gap in a news story. A hole means that something essential to clarity or
completeness is missing
human interest story = an essential element of the news, a recognition of the fact
that
people are interested in what other people do. Especially strong human interest
elements are love, children, success and misfortune, pets and animals.

identification = facts used to identify a person, building, place or organization. The

facts,
for example, the age, street address, title or descriptive matter, that distinguish
one
person from another
imprint = name and address of publisher and printer
indent = set copy several characters in front left-hand margin
indirect quote = not verbatim but rather a slightly edited or paraphrased version of a
speaker’s words

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in-house = inside of a media organization
intro = first paragraph of a story
inverted pyramid = the basic news story form, with a summary lead at the beginning
and minor facts at the end
investigating reporting = when a journalist intends to reveal something of political
or
social importance which someone powerful wants hidden.
issue = a particular number of a newspaper or periodical, as “The story was published
in
the Times in the issue of December 3, 2000.”

journo = jocular term for journalist

journalism = the trade, technique or profession of reporting news for the public by
various means
journalism reviews = critical publications whose major interest is study and analysis
of
the press
journalist = a newsman. In the past more commonly used in England than in the
United
States, where reporter and newsman have traditionally been preferred by those
in
the working press. The term is in wider use here today

kill (to) = to drop a story; hence “kill fee” for freelance whose commissioned story is
not
used
knock down = to disprove stories usually in rival newspapers
knocking copy = story written with negative angle

label = the headline which categorizes the news

layout = arrangement of body type, headlines and illustrations on the page
lead = the first paragraph or paragraphs of a news story
leg = column of typeset copy
legman = a reporter who covers news but does not write it. To save time for the job of
reporting, the legman hands over the writing chore to someone else. Legmen
phone
their stories in to the rewrite desk
lensman = American term for male photographer
libel = a published report that defames a person
lift (to) = steal a story from another media outlet and reproduce it with few changes
literal = typing error either misspelling or transliteration
localize = to emphasize the local angle of a news story, usually by placing it in the
lead
or high in the story. Local news has high reader interest, and it always pays to
emphasize local angles
lower case = ordinary letters (not caps)

make-up = assembly of type and illustrations on the page ready for printing
masthead = newspaper’s front-page title
media = a term used to refer to the press – newspapers, magazines, television and
radio.
Media is plural. Medium is the singular form.
mole = a secret source for investigative journalist

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more = an instruction typed at the bottom of the page of copy to indicate that the story
is
not complete and that another page or pages follow
mug shot = photo showing just face and sometimes shoulders. It is also known as
head
and shoulders.
must = copy that must appear, e.g. apology or correction

news hole = the number of columns of space available for news in a newspaper. The
space not devoted to advertising. The space available to a particular editor, e.g. a
sports editor, for use in that day’s paper
newsman = an employee of the news, or editorial, staff of a newspaper. A press
association or news service employee. A man or a woman who reports, writes or
edits the news.
news peg = the significant or interesting point on which a reporter hangs a story. The
Angle, feature or twist to a story that makes it interesting or important
nib = news in brief – short news item

obituary = an obit, a story about death. An obit reports facts about a death, funeral
arrangements, a list of surviving relatives and at least a brief biography
off-the record = statements made to a journalist on the understanding that they will
not
be reported directly or attributed
ombudsman = a readers’ representative who serves as a sort of middle-man between
the
newspaper staff and the public
on spec. = uncommissioned (material submitted by freelance)
on-the-record = statements made to a journalist that they can be reported or attributed
op ed = opposite editorial. The right-hand page facing the editorial page. Op ed pages
carry additional opinion columns, letters to the editor and editorial cartoons

pack = collection of journalists. It is known also as “rat pack”

pad = to add superfluous matter to a story. A padded story has more words or details
than
necessary.
page brightener = light and generally humorous features, mostly short, that lighten
and
brighten the news
paparazzo/i = photographer(s) specializing in pursuing celebrities
par/ para/ paragraph = an arbitrary division of written copy’ usually from one to
three
or four sentences. Newspaper paragraphs tend to be shorter than those in other
published work, primarily because newspaper columns are narrower than book
columns and other columns
paraphrase = phrasing in the writer’s words rather than in the words of a speaker or
news source, usually done to report more concisely and briefly
partial quote = verbatim but less than a complete sentence. For best effect, partial
quotes
should be complete phrases rather than one or two words. Generally, it is better
to
avoid use of partial quotes in favor of complete sentences of direct quote or
paraphrase
pay-off = final twist or flourish in the last paragraph of a story

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pic = abbreviation of picture. It is pix for plural.
picture-grabber = facility for taking picture off television
piece = article
play up = to emphasize a certain angle or fact in a news story. To give a story
prominence by placing it on the front page
precision journalism = he technique of gathering data – facts or opinion – by
quantitative methods. A good example is the measuring of public opinion by
survey, that is, polling of a carefully selected sample of the public
press = originally, printed publications, chiefly newspapers and magazines, but now a
broadened term that includes broadcast journalism
print = to print is to carry out the physical process of producing a newspaper,
magazine
or book by setting type, making up pages and printing on a press. The word
print is
not interchangeable with publish, which is the creative process of producing
newspapers, periodicals and books
print media = newspapers, magazines and other periodicals. The terms print media
and
newspaper are not interchangeable
public information = a term commonly used to describe public relations activities
and
 personnel in government and the military
public relations = the business of presenting information, usually favourable, to the
public about a person, firm or organization. Often referred to as information
services, as in universities, or as public information, as in government
publish = 1. to issue a newspaper or magazine
2. to include a story in an issue of a newspaper
publishing = is a creative act by the editorial side of the newspaper. It is also
managerial: newspaper are published by their owners and managers
publisher = the chief executive officer of a newspaper, responsible for the
management
of all aspects of the newspaper. The publisher manages a newspaper for the
owners
who publish it
punchline = main point of a story.

Q. and A. = the device of reporting dialogue in the form of questions and answers.
Frequently used to give verbatim reports of testimony at trials or public hearings
query = question mark
quote = verbatim quotation
quotes = quotation marks

readership = number of people who read paper.

released date = the date or time when a news story embargoed or marked “hold for
release” may be published
reporter = a newsman or woman whose principal job is to gather the news and,
usually,
to write it
rewrite = the rewrite desk. Also copy revised or rewritten is termed “a rewrite”
rewriter = a newsman who not only rewrites the stories to improve them, to bring
them
up to date or to change an angle, but also writes stories from information phoned
in
by reporters
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ring-round = story based on series of telephone calls
round-up = a story that pulls together various aspects of a newsworthy event. For
example, a weekend round-up of accidents provided for Monday issues of
newspapers by the wire services. A round-up assembles a number of stories of a
similar nature under one lead. Another typical round-up is the weather round-up
roving reporter = reporter who travels around a lot
run on = (of type) continue from one line, column or page to the next
running story = one that is constantly developing, over a newspaper’s different
editions
or a number of days

sanserif = plain type

scoop = jocular word for exclusive
screamer = exclamation mark
second-day lead = a follow-up story published a day or days after the original story
or an
 event would have a second-day lead, often a feature lead, but always adding
something new to the original story
second-day story = a news story written or published on the day after the first story
on a
news event has been published. It does not tell a story for the first time but
rather
follows up on the earlier story. The second-day story provides new information
or
background that makes the original story more complete or understandable
sell = another name for standfirst, often use in women’s magazines
serif = decorative addition to type
set = to arrange type into words and sentences preparatory to printing. To compose.
Type
can be set by hand, by linecasting machines or electronically by
photocomposition
machines controlled by computers
sexy story = story with popular appeal
shirttail = to add secondary matter to the end of a story. Also anything added in this
way
shy = (of headline) – too short for the space available
sidebar = a related story. A sidebar runs alongside another story and carries secondary
details , background color or human interest aspects of the story
side-head = subsidiary heading
sister paper = when a company has more than one newspaper each
sketch = light-hearted account of events, especially parliamentary
slant = the tone or direction deliberately given to a story. Sometimes, the emphasis of
a
story. A story directed to a certain segment of a newspaper’s readership is said to
be
slanted to teen-age readers. Another meaning is bias. In this sense, slanting is to
be
avoided
slip = newspaper edition for particular area or event
slug = a one-word or two-word identification for a news story, typed at the top of each
page of the story
snap = early summary by news agency of important story to come
snapper = jocular term for press photographer
snaps = press photographers
soft news = light news story

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speech tag = device for attributing a quote or a fact to its source, for example,
“professor
said”. Normal word order in a speech tag is name first, verb second
spin doctors = people who attempt to influence the political agenda, the spin in
American jargon such as press officers, propagandists.
splash = tabloid’s front-page story
spoiler = attempt by newspaper to reduce impact at rival’s exclusive by publishing
similar story
spot news = breaking news, unexpected news events
standfirst = introductory matter, particularly used with features
stereotype = words or phrases that tend to categorize or compartmentalize, frequently
pejoratively. Terms like elderly, handicapped or inner city tend to put people and
places in categories rather than identifying or describing them by their own
characteristics
story = news written for publication, a report or account of an event. Newsmen prefer
the
word story to article
strap(line) = introductory words above main headline
stringer = someone who reports or writes for a newspaper on a production basis, that
is,
is paid for what is published rather than as a full-time, salaried staff member.
Also
called a corespondent
style = conventions or accepted usage regarding punctuation, capitalization,
abbreviations, use of names and titles and other features of written language
sub = sub-editor – journalist who checks, corrects, rewrites copy, writes headlines,
captions and checks proofs, on newspapers, but not on most magazines, subs are
also responsible for layout
summary = a brief, inclusive statement of what a story is about. A summary lead tells
concisely what happened. A summary paragraph briefly explains one or more
aspects of the story
suspended interest = a type of news story in which the main point or outcome is
withheld until the end of the story rather than being summarized at the
beginning

tabloid = 1. a newspaper page half the size of a broadsheet

2. a term roughly equivalent to yellow journalism
taster = production journalist who checks and selects copy
think piece = feature written to show and provoke thought
tip = information supplied, and usually paid for, whether by freelance or member of
the
public
tot = abbreviation for “Triumph over Tragedy Story”, feature formula particularly
popular in women’s magazine
transition = a word, phrase, sentence or paragraph that serves to carry a story from
one
part to another, often to indicate a shift from one speaker to another or from one
topic to another
trim = to tighten up a story, chiefly by eliminating superfluous words and replacing
loose
phrases with single words that convey the same thought

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typo = short for typographical error

update = to bring a story up to date or to make it more timely. Sometimes news

stories
are updated from edition to edition as news information becomes available
uppercase = capital letters. Frequently abbreviated as caps or UC
upstyle = newspaper style that tends to capitalize when there is a choice. Newspaper
style today is something of a compromise between up style and down style

wing paragraph = another term for the bridge or transitional paragraph, a device for
moving the reader from the lead to the body of the story or from one part of a
story
to another
wire = newspaper terminology for the press associations, the Associated Press, United
Press International and Reuters
working press = the newsmen who report, write and edit newspapers, magazines and
other periodicals and who work in broadcast journalism. More particularly, the
reporters who are in the front lines of journalism covering the news on a day-to-
day
basis.

Yellow Journalism = a term used to describe vulgar, lurid and sensational news
coverage. First applied in the early 1990s to Pulitzer’s New York World. Typical
New York tabloid journalism of the 1920s. Journalism that exploits, distorts,
exaggerates and sensationalizes