Journalism Fundamentals and Media Review

General journalism vocabulary and concepts based on the provided review sheet covering media consolidation, news values, writing structures, and interviewing ethics.

Media consolidation

The process where fewer companies own a larger share of media outlets—like newspapers, TV stations, radio networks, and digital platforms—resulting in ownership concentrated in the hands of a small number of large corporations.

News as a commodity

The practice of treating information as something produced mainly to be bought, sold, and monetized, which can create a mismatch between market logic and journalism’s public-service role.

Chasing trivialities

A media trend that shifts journalism away from its core role of helping the public understand what truly matters by focusing on insignificant details.

Society of Professional Journalists ethics code

A set of standards used by journalists to ensure accuracy, accountability, and ethical conduct in reporting.

Objective approach

Reporting facts fairly and accurately without letting personal opinions, bias, or emotions influence the story, focusing instead on evidence and multiple viewpoints.

News

Information about recent or important events intended to inform the public, provide context, and help people understand what is happening and why it matters.

News peg

The timely reason a story is being reported at a specific moment, such as a recent event or announcement.

Angle

The specific focus or perspective a journalist chooses to use when telling a story.

Self-editing

The process of looking for fact accuracy, clear writing, spelling/grammar errors, and balanced sourcing to catch mistakes before publication.

Active voice

A writing style preferred in journalism because it is clearer, more direct, and easier to understand (e.g., “Police arrested the suspect”).

Lead

The opening sentence or paragraph of a news story that summarizes the most important information and grabs the reader’s attention.

The five W’s and an H

The basic questions journalists use to gather key facts: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.

Straight lead

A lead that directly summarizes the most important facts of a story in a clear, concise way, usually in a single sentence.

Nut graph

A paragraph that explains the main point or significance of a news story and provides context for why the story matters.

Narrative lead

An opening that starts a news story like a short scene or story, using description or action to draw the reader in.

Inverted pyramid

A news writing structure where the most important information is presented first, followed by supporting details, and ending with background or less essential information.

Background

Information that provides context about a story’s people, events, or history to help readers understand the connection between current and past events.

Full quotes

The exact wording of a source, used when the phrasing is powerful, revealing, or requires precision to avoid misinterpretation.

Partial quotes

Fragments of a speaker’s exact words integrated into the journalist’s own wording to highlight specific phrases or keep writing concise.

Paraphrase (indirect quote)

Restating a speaker’s idea in the journalist’s own words without using their exact wording to clarify or shorten statements.

Attribution

Information that shows the source of a statement, establishing credibility and making it clear that a claim belongs to the speaker rather than the journalist.

Reporting verb

The main word used in attributions, most commonly the word “said.”

Inference

A conclusion drawn based on evidence and reasoning rather than directly stated facts; it should generally be avoided by reporters unless labeled as analysis.

Judgment

A value-based conclusion or opinion reflecting approval or disapproval, which must be clearly attributed to a source if included in a story.

Advance stories

Stories that preview an upcoming event or development, including details on what is happening, when, where, and why it matters.

Straight news approach (meetings)

A method of covering a meeting that reports the most important actions or decisions first, similar to an inverted pyramid.

Topical/agenda approach (meetings)

A method of organizing a meeting story by major issues discussed rather than the chronological order of the meeting.

Direct interview

A reporting method where the journalist speaks with one source and presents their perspective through quotes or paraphrased responses.

Indirect interview

A reporting method where information is gathered from a source but presented as a reported or paraphrased part of a broader story rather than a Q&A.

Off the record

An agreement made before information is shared that the material cannot be published or attributed to the source.

Editorial independence

The principle that journalists should not let sources read or influence their stories before publication to avoid compromising the reporting.