journalism terms n-z Flashcards
news hole
Space in a newspaper allotted to news, illustrations and other nonadvertising material.
off-the-record
Describes material offered the reporter in confidence. If the reporter accepts the material with this understanding, it cannot be used except as general background in a later story.
op-ed page
Abbreviation for the page opposite the editorial page. The page is frequently devoted to opinion columns and related illustrations.
overnight
Story usually written late at night for the afternoon news- papers of the next day.
pool
Arrangement whereby limited numbers of reporters and photographers are selected to represent all those assigned to the story.
press release
Publicity handout, or a story given to the news media for publication.
puff piece or puffery
publicity story or a story that contains unwarranted superlatives.
roundup
A story that joins two or more events with a common theme, such as traffic accidents, weather, police reports.
rowback
A story that attempts to correct a previous story without indicating that the prior story had been in error or with- out taking responsibility for the error.
running story
Event that develops and is covered over a period of time.
sell
Presentation a reporter makes to impress the editor with the importance of his or her story.
shirttail
Short, related story added to the end of a longer one.
sidebar
Story that emphasizes and elaborates on one part of another nearby story.
situation
Story that pulls together a continuing event for the reader who may not have kept track as it unfolded.
slant
To write a story so as to influence the reader’s thinking.
source
Person, record, document or event that provides the information for the story.
split page
Front page of an inside section.
stringer
Correspondent, not a regular staff member, who is paid by the story or by the number of words written.
tight
Refers to a paper so crowded with ads that the news space must be reduced.
tip
Information passed to a reporter, often in confidence.
verification
Determination of the truth of the material the reporter gathers or is given.
wire services
Synonym for press associations, the Associated Press and United Press International.
