Introduction to Journalism and Strategic Communication Exam A Key Concepts Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts, history, law, ethics, and practices from introductory journalism lecture notes.

Journalism

A set of transparent, independent procedures aimed at gathering, verifying, and reporting truthful information of consequence to citizens in a democracy.

Goal of Journalism

To share information under the assumption that when citizens are properly informed, they will make sound decisions.

Theory of Informed Citizens

The framework wherein journalists share verified info, citizens receive and process info, and citizens subsequently make sound decisions.

The Mirror

A journalism role focused on reflecting society to the public.

Watchdog

A journalism role focused on exposing corruption and investigating those in power.

Marketplace of Ideas

A journalism role providing a space where citizens can converse freely, including sharing unpopular opinions.

Yellow Journalism

Sensational tactics used to sell newspapers, including exaggerated headlines, unverified topics, and focusing on topics that sell.

Investigative Journalism

Journalism designed to expose corruption, abuse of power, or reform injustice; associated with the watchdog role.

FOIA (Freedom of Information Act)

Public information law allowing the public to request records from any government agency.

Sunshine Laws

Open records or freedom of information laws requiring transparency in government and business, which vary state to state.

Economic Convergence

A structure where various media organizations and functions are merged under a single ownership structure.

Credibility

The combination of trustworthiness and expertise that makes us more or less likely to believe or rely on what a source tells us.

Verification

Checking, questioning, and corroborating information to establish what is true.

Transparency

The principle that journalists are open about the information gathering and verification process.

Hierarchy of Verification

A framework consisting of an outer circle (secondary sources), a middle circle (primary source documents), and an inner circle (targets).

Provenance

A verification check for social media content questioning if the content is an original, accurate piece of content, or if it has been altered.

Transparency as Attribution

Attributing all truth claims in a journalistic story to a source by naming sources and explaining how they are in a position to know something.

Objectivity

A concept where the methods used to gather and verify information are assessed as objective, rather than the individual journalist.

Both-sides-ism

Giving equal weight to both viewpoints, even if they are not accurate or supported by evidence.

Libel

When a false or defamatory statement has been made about an identifiable person and published to a third party, causing harm to the subject's reputation.

Shield Laws

State laws that allow a reporter to conceal a source's identity.

Deontological Ethics

An ethical perspective where ethics are black and white, and there is always a clear right or wrong.

Situational Ethics

An ethical perspective where what is right or wrong depends on the context of the situation.

Codes of Ethics

Stated values of organizations to guide members' decision making, provide consistent principles to solve conflict, and set high standards.

Trauma-Informed Journalism

Understanding how trauma may impact people a journalist may want to interview.

Legacy Journalism

News outlets that dominated prior to the information age of cable and internet, such as newspapers and traditional broadcast media.

Gatekeeping

The process by which countless events and ideas are reduced to messages we see in news media.

Community Journalism

Locally oriented journalism that typically focuses on specific communities such as small towns or neighborhoods.

News Deserts

A community with limited access to the sort of credible and comprehensive news and info that feeds democracy at a grassroots level.

Advocacy Journalism

A genre of journalism that combines reporting with a clear point of view, such as a political position or stance on a certain issue.

News Influencers

Individuals who have a large following on social media and often post about news, political, or social issues.

Verification of social media content

• Provenance- is this source original, accurate piece of content, or has it been altered?

• Source- who uploaded the content? Are they the original source?

• Date: when was the content created?

• Location- where was the content created? Can the content be verified?

Ideological critiques of objectivity

• From the right

  • Journalists tend to be personally liberal, so they can’t be neutral or objective

• From the left

  • Journalists follow official narratives (such as from the govt), so they end up being mouthpieces for those in power

objectivity as a process

• Comes from methods used to to gather and verify information, a consistent and transparent approach to evidence

• Comes from reflection on part of the journalist

ethics

Personal or professional guides to behavior that distinguish wrong from right

SPJ Code of ethics

seek truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently, be accurate and transparent

seek truth and report it

Be accurate and fair. Journalists should be courageous in gathering reporting, and interpreting info

minimize harm

• Treat sources, subjects, colleagues and members of the public as human beings deserving of respect

• Balance public’s need for information against potential harm/discomfort

• Trauma-informed journalism

act independently

• Highest and primary obligation is to serve the public

• Avoid conflicts of interest, don’t accept gift

be accountable and transparent

• Taking responsibility for one’s own work and and explaining decisions to the public

• Acknowledge mistakes, respond quickly to questions

Types of news outlets

ownership, audience, medium

ownership

• For profit- locally owned, corporate ownership

• Nonprofit- no owner, meant to serve social goal

audience

National, local, specific audiences

medium

• Print first- newspapers, magazines

• Broadcast first- radio or tv

• digital first- online only news orgs

gatekeeping channels (what determines what gets covered)

• Sources- those who participate, see, or are knowledgeable about an event

• Media- reporters, editors, owners seek more info from sources

• Audience- reading/sharing stories suggests what stories are most relevant

audience metrics

• Old way- journlaisrs didn’t think about audiences

• Digital age- digital news use gathers more data about  what audiences want to see

audience metrics

• Old way- journlaisrs didn’t think about audiences

• Digital age- digital news use gathers more data about  what audiences want to see

Four elements of engaged journalism

• Listening to audiences

• Collaborating with audiences

• Connecting with communities

• Promoting audience interaction with and through content

5 ways news influencers do their work

• Build parasocial relationships w/ audiences

• Master platform algorithms and engagement

• Create personality driven, authentic content

• Respond in real-time to community feedback

• Make complex topics accessible and engaging

ethical guardrails

• Journalism principles apply- goal can’t just be branding

• Never sacrifice accuracy for engagement

• Verify before you post, even on social media

• Authenticity does not justify sharing unverified info

• Independence: avoid conflicts of interest

• Consider, can you be independent while catering to audience taste?

Core functions of journalism in a democracy

informs, analyzes, interprets and explains

investigates

creates public convo

helps create social empathy

encourages accountability

informs, analyzes, interprets and explains

Sharing info and analysis citizens need to govern

investigates

Uncover hidden truths and wrong-doing through deep research

creates public conversation

Addresses society’s need for a shared set of issues and facts. Creates public forum for conversation without government interference

helps create social empathy

All those, not just with most money/influence, can be heard

encourages accountability

Holding those in power responsible for their actions- vertical accountability