Photojournalism, Editorial Cartooning, and Sports Writing

A set of 50 vocabulary flashcards covering the core concepts, principles, and techniques of Photojournalism, Editorial Cartooning, and Sports Writing based on the lecture notes.

Photojournalism

A form of journalism that tells a news story through powerful photography, capturing and transmitting newsworthy events as they happen as the primary storytelling device.

Core Difference of Photojournalism

Unlike documentary, street, or celebrity photography, photojournalism is distinguished by its strict need to remain honest and impartial.

Mission of Photojournalism

To inform, report, bring the scene to the reader regardless of distance, and grab a moment of history and preserve it for the future.

Origins of Photojournalism

Began with the first published war photographs in newspapers during the Crimean War and the American Civil War.

Timeliness

A news value in photography referring to current and immediate events.

Significance

A news value reflecting the impact and importance of an event to the public.

Proximity

A news value based on geographical or cultural closeness to the readership.

Prominence

A news value involving well-known public figures, leaders, or celebrities.

Human Interest

A news value centered on emotional appeal touching human life and experiences.

Composition

The arrangement of elements in a frame and how they compete for the reader's attention.

Foreground

The layer of a photographic scene consisting of elements closest to the camera.

Subject

The central point of focus or interest within a photograph's frame.

Background

The backdrop positioned behind the subject that provides context to the scene.

Lines

Fundamental photographic elements that guide the viewer's eye along a path and establish boundaries separating different sections.

Circles / Rounds

Shapes in photography that convey peace and harmony.

Triangles

Shapes in photography that convey dynamic action and movement.

Quadrilaterals

Shapes in photography that convey practical, stable, and grounded qualities.

Depth of Field (DoF)

In simplest terms, refers to how much of the image is sharply in focus.

Rule of Thirds

Dividing an image into a $3 \times 3$ grid using two vertical and two horizontal lines to balance subjects and proportion foreground versus background.

Framing

Using foreground objects or environmental structures like windows or arches to surround parts of the scene and direct attention to the subject.

Reflection

Utilizing water puddles, mirrors, or glass to create artistic, abstract, or layered imagery that elevates a simple snapshot.

The Decisive Moment

Waiting for perfect composition, timing, emotion, and gesture to align in a single fleeting instant that encapsulates the story.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

The photographer who coined the concept of The Decisive Moment (or Peak of the Moment).

Proximity Rule

A photojournalism principle credited to Robert Capa stating: 'If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough.'

Caption

The short headline or title sitting directly above the explanatory text of a photograph.

Cutline

The explanatory sentence(s) beneath or beside a photo describing its context and details using the 5Ws and 1H.

Trite Phrases

Painfully obvious wording strictly avoided in cutlines, such as 'shown above,' 'looks on,' or 'pictured here.'

Editorial Cartoon

Also known as a political cartoon; a drawing containing visual commentary expressing the artist's opinion on a current issue.

Caricature

A simplified or exaggerated drawing of a recognizable person's physical traits to make them instantly recognizable while satirizing their public persona.

Lines of Movement

Motion lines and action strokes indicating dynamic physical motion such as swinging, running, or striking in editorial cartoons.

Hatching

A shading technique using parallel, regular, evenly spaced lines to add depth, dimension, and value.

Cross-Hatching

A shading technique using parallel lines overlaid at right angles or diagonals to create darker tones and texture.

Scumbling

A shading technique using layers of small, scribbled marks or controlled irregular doodles to build value.

Stippling (Pointillism)

A shading technique created through clusters of fine dots, where higher density creates deeper shadow.

Circulism

A shading technique creating small overlapping circles to smoothly build tonal values.

Pencil / Pen / Newspaper (Symbol)

Editorial cartoon symbols representing freedom of the press, news media, and journalism.

Dove (Symbol)

An editorial cartoon symbol representing peace, freedom, and democracy.

Salakot / Juan Dela Cruz

An editorial cartoon symbol representing the ordinary Filipino citizen or the common working class.

Chains (Kadena)

An editorial cartoon symbol representing oppression, suppression of freedom, slavery, and economic bondage.

Crocodile (Buwaya)

An editorial cartoon symbol representing corrupt politicians or officials, greed, and exploitation.

Gavel (Malyete)

An editorial cartoon symbol representing justice, court systems, rule of law, and legal enforcement.

Grim Reaper / Skull & Crossbones

Editorial cartoon symbols representing danger, death, peril, and severe catastrophe.

Big Wave / Tsunami (Malaking Alon)

An editorial cartoon symbol representing overwhelming crises, national trials, and major obstacles.

Personification

An editorial cartooning technique of giving abstract threats (such as a cholera outbreak or economic decline) monster-like human or animal forms.

Sports Writing

A specialized field of journalism that reports, describes, and interprets sports competitions, athletes, teams, and tournament developments.

Tone in Sports Writing

Energetic, dramatic, and exciting, differing from the formal, restrained, and detached tone of straight news.

Sports Headline

A title that summarizes the decisive result immediately using brief, punchy phrasing and powerful action verbs.

The Lead (Sports Story)

The opening paragraph that captures attention and condenses winning/losing teams, final score, decisive turning point/hero, and when/where the match took place.

The Body (Sports Story)

The section detailing chronological progression, major scoring runs, individual statistics, critical factors, and direct post-game quotes.

The Tail (Sports Story)

The ending that concludes the article with forward-looking context, such as upcoming schedules, team standings, brackets, or concluding athlete quotes.