COMM 101: Communication Media and Press Freedoms

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering legal frameworks, press freedom history, print media evolution, newspapers, and magazines.

Defamation

Any false statement communicated to a third party that injures the reputation, honor, or character of an individual or entity.

Libel

Defamatory statements expressed in written or fixed form, including print, online articles, blogs, social media posts, or broadcast recordings.

Slander

Defamatory statements expressed orally in casual speech, unrecorded conversations, or temporary gestures.

Actual Malice

A legal standard established in NY Times v. Sullivan (1964) requiring public officials suing for libel to prove that false information was published knowingly or with reckless disregard for truth.

Copyright

A legal right granted to creators of original creative works, giving exclusive rights to use and distribute them.

Fair Use

A legal exception allowing limited use of copyrighted material without permission for criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, or research.

Plagiarism

Presenting someone else's work, ideas, words, or creative expression as one's own without proper attribution or permission.

Media

Physical or digital channels, tools, and platforms used to store, transmit, and deliver information or data to an audience.

Editorial Gatekeeping

The process where editors and journalists filter, select, and shape raw news and information before deciding what gets printed in a newspaper or magazine.

Media Tools

Hardware and software technologies used to create, encode, or capture content, such as cameras, microphones, and editing software.

Message Carriers

Specific platforms or conduits that transport and deliver encoded messages, such as fiber optic networks, Wi-Fi, radio frequencies, and printed paper.

Prior Restraint

Government review, censorship, or blocking of content prior to publication, which is prohibited except under extreme national security emergencies.

Shield Laws

Statutory laws that protect confidential journalistic sources from exposure and shield reporters from being forced to testify in court.

Fourth Estate

The unofficial role of journalism as a watchdog that monitors power structures and exposes corruption, government misconduct, and corporate wrongdoing.

Acta Diurna

Public announcements in Ancient Rome carved on metal or stone and posted publicly in the forum.

Penny Press

One-cent newspapers originating in the 1830s that shifted revenue from subscriptions to high-volume advertising, democratizing mass information.

Yellow Journalism

A style of reporting defined by screaming banner headlines, sensationalized crime stories, color comics, and fabricated news resulting from circulation wars.

Inverted Pyramid Model

A news writing structure that places crucial facts (Who, What, Where, When, Why, How) in the lead paragraph, followed by details in decreasing order of importance.

Broadsheet

A large newspaper format ($15 \times 22 \text{ in}$) characterized by traditional multi-column layout, formal tone, and in-depth analysis.

Tabloid

A compact newspaper format ($11 \times 17 \text{ in}$) featuring bold graphics, shorter articles, and a human-interest focus.

Nameplate

The printed name of a newspaper on page 1, also referred to as the masthead.

Byline

The writer's name appearing above or below an article title.

Jump Line

A navigation line directing readers to the internal page where a front-page story continues.

Muckraking

Early 20th-century magazine investigative journalism that aimed to expose corporate and social abuses to encourage reform.

Demographics

Measurable characteristics of an audience, such as age, income bracket, education level, and location.

Psychographics

Psychological audience traits including values, lifestyle choices, political leanings, and aesthetic preferences.

Native Advertising

Paid promotional content designed to resemble the publication's editorial style, required to be clearly labeled as sponsored content.

Legal Terms Comparison Table

A matrix summarizing the nature, primary medium, and core violations associated with libel, slander, copyright violation, and plagiarism.