definition terms news writing

Common terms and phrases used in news reporting and writing  

▪ Angle: The particular approach or perspective taken in writing a news story.

▪ Attribution: The act of identifying the source of a piece of information.

▪ Background Information: Information provided to enhance understanding but not for direct quoting or attribution.

▪ Banner: A headline in large letters running across the entire width of the first page.

▪ Body: The main part of the article that provides details and supporting information.

▪ Buried Lead: The term "buried lead" refers to a common mistake in news writing where crucial information is not placed prominently in the article but is instead buried deeper within the text.

Ideally, the lead (most important information) should be in the introduction, allowing readers to quickly grasp the essential details. However, in a buried lead scenario, the critical information might be found in later paragraphs, making it less likely for readers to notice or understand the significance of the story. This can happen due to poor organization, unclear writing, or a failure to recognize the primary focus of the news.

To avoid the buried lead, journalists and writers should ensure that the most important information is presented early in the article, ideally within the first few paragraphs. This ensures that even readers who only skim the beginning of the article can grasp the core details. The rest of the article can then provide additional context, background, and supporting details.

Here's a table comparing news reporting and news writing:

▪ Byline: The line in a newspaper or magazine naming the writer of an article.

▪ Caption: A brief explanation or description of an accompanying photograph or illustration.

▪ Columnist: A person who writes a regular column giving a personal opinion.

▪ Copy Desk: The section within a newsroom where editors review, edit and prepare written content for publication. They ensure accuracy, clarity and adherence to the publication's style and standards.

▪ Copy Editor: A professional who edits written content for accuracy, grammar, style and coherence. Copy editors are responsible for correcting errors and ensuring that the text is clear and suitable for publication.

▪ Copyright: A legal right granted to the creator of original works, such as literary, artistic and musical creations, protecting their use and distribution. Copyright gives the creator exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display and license the work.

▪ Correspondent: A journalist who reports news from a particular location, often distant from the main newsroom. Correspondents gather and report information, typically covering specific beats or regions.

▪ Copy: All material for publication, whether written stories or pictures.

▪ Credit Line: A note or citation that accompanies published material, such as articles, photographs or illustrations, giving proper acknowledgement to the creator or source of the content. It typically includes the name of the author, photographer, artist or organization responsible for the work. This ensures that the original creator receives recognition and maintains their rights to the work.

A Credit Line and a Byline both provide attribution, but they are used in different contexts and for different types of content:

Credit Line:

Purpose: To give credit to the creator of visual or supplementary content, such as photographs, illustrations or graphics.

Placement: Typically placed near the visual content it refers to, such as under a photograph or at the end of an illustration.

Content: Includes the name of the creator or source of the content, such as "Photo by John Doe" or "Illustration by Jane Smith."

Byline:

Purpose: To credit the author of a written piece, such as an article, story, or editorial.

Placement: Usually placed at the beginning of the article, immediately under the headline.

Content: Includes the author's name and sometimes their title or affiliation, such as "By John Doe" or "By Jane Smith, Staff Writer."

▪ Dateline: The line at the beginning of a news article that includes the date and place of writing.

▪ Dummy: A diagram or layout of a newspaper page showing the placement of stories, headlines andadvertisements.

▪ Edition: A particular version or issue of a publication, especially a newspaper or magazine, published at a specific time.

▪ Editor: An individual responsible for the content and quality of a publication. Editors review and revise articles, manage writers, and ensure that the publication meets its standards.

▪ Embargo: A request by a source that the information or news provided not be published until a certain date and time.

▪ Fact-checking: The process of verifying information before publication to ensure accuracy.

▪ Filler: Short articles or items used to fill space in a publication. These can include small news stories, facts, jokes, or puzzles.

▪ Flag: The name of a newspaper or magazine as it appears on the front page or cover. Also known as the nameplate.

▪ Fourth Estate: A term referring to the press and news media both in its explicit capacity of advocacy and in its implicit ability to frame political issues. It acts as a societal or political force.

▪ Gutter: The margin between facing pages where the fold lies. The space between columns of text in a publication or the inner margins where two pages meet in a book or magazine.

▪ Hard News: News stories that report on significant events, facts, and issues, often involving politics, economics, crime, and other major public matters. Hard news is usually timely and has a serious tone.

▪ Headline: The title of a news article, designed to grab attention.

▪ Lead (Lede): The opening sentence or paragraph of a news story, summarizing the most important aspects.

▪ Masthead: A section of a newspaper or magazine, usually found on the editorial page or inside the front cover, that lists the publication's name, ownership, management, staff, and contact information.

▪ Off the Record: Information provided to a journalist that cannot be published or attributed to the source.

▪ On the Record: Information provided to a journalist that can be published and attributed to the source.

▪ Press: Machine that prints the newspaper.

▪ Press Release: An official statement issued to newspapers and other media giving information on a particular matter.

▪ Quote: A verbatim repetition of someone's words, usually enclosed in quotation marks.

▪ Scoop: An exclusive piece of news reported before any other media outlet.

▪ Soft News: News stories that are more about entertainment, lifestyle, or human interest. These stories tend to be less time-sensitive and more about providing amusement or emotional engagement.

▪ Source: The origin of the information used in the article, which can be a person, document, or other material.

▪ Stringer: A freelance journalist or photographer who contributes reports or photos to a news organization on a piece-by-piece basis rather than being a full-time staff member.

▪ Tabloid: A type of newspaper that typically has a smaller page size (usually about half the size of a standard newspaper) and often focuses on sensational news stories, celebrity gossip and entertainment. The term can also refer to the sensationalist style of journalism found in such newspapers.

▪ Wire Service: A news agency supplying syndicated news wirelessly to newspapers, radio and television stations. A wire service, also known as a news agency, news cooperative, or news service, supplies news reports to media outlets. These services produce hard news articles, features and other content that media outlets can use with minimal or no editing required e.g. AP and UPI.

AP (Associated Press): A major global news agency headquartered in the United States. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers and radio and television stations in the U.S., all of which contribute news to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists. 

UPI (United Press International): Another major international news agency headquartered in the United States. UPI provides news, photos and other information to newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, and online platforms around the world.

Types of News Stories

▪ Breaking News: Immediate coverage of an event that is currently unfolding.

▪ Feature: An in-depth article focusing on a particular topic, person, or trend, often with a more narrative and descriptive style.

▪ Editorial: An opinion piece written by the editorial board or a columnist expressing viewpoints on various issues.

▪ Op-Ed (Opposite Editorial): An opinion piece by an author not affiliated with the editorial board, often providing a different perspective. It is also a page opposite the editorial page, where opinions by guest writers are presented.

▪ Investigative Reporting: In-depth reporting that uncovers new information, often involving extensive research and resources.

▪ Inverted Pyramid: A structure where the most important information is presented at the beginning of the article, followed by details in decreasing order of importance.

▪ Nut Graph (Nut Graf): A paragraph that summarizes the essence of a story, often placed after the lead.

▪ Background: Information provided to give context to a story, often historical or explanatory.

▪ Sidebar: A short article accompanying a main story, providing additional information or perspectives.

▪ Slant: The specific point of view or bias reflected in a news article.

Visual and Multimedia Terms

▪ B-Roll: Supplemental footage used to enhance the storytelling in video journalism.

▪ Standup: A segment where a reporter appears on camera to present information directly.

▪ Voiceover (VO): A narration provided by the reporter or a narrator while video footage is shown.