Journalistic Terminologies
News agency
A news agency is an organization that gathers news reports and sells them to subscribing news
organizations, such as newspapers, magazines, and radio and television broadcasters.
There are many news agencies around the world, but four are global news agencies which have
offices in most countries of the world and cover all areas of information: Agence FrancePresse, Associated Press, Reuters and Agencia EFE.
Broadcast feature: longer than usual broadcast news story that gives reporters 5-25 minutes
(compared to usual 30-60 seconds) to develop a deeper look at a news event, trend, or individual;
the broadcast equivalent of a newspaper feature story; also known as "television magazine piece"
or radio feature
Gutter: narrow margin of white space in the center area in a magazine, newspaper, or book,
where two pages meet.
Byline
Name of the reporter who wrote the story, placed atop the published article.
Correspondent
Reporter who sends news from outside a newspaper office
Wire services
A news agency that supplies syndicated news by wire to newspapers, radio, and television
stations.
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
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.
Desk A term used by reporters to refer to the city editor's or copy editor's position, as in, "The desk
wants this story by noon."
Libel Damage to a person's reputation caused by a false written statement that brings the person into
hatred, contempt or ridicule, or injures his or her business or occupational pursuit.
Lay out (v.) The process of preparing page drawings to indicate where stories and pictures are to be
placed in the newspaper.
Op-ed page
Abbreviation for the page opposite the editorial page. The page is frequently devoted to opinion
columns and related illustrations.
Masthead Formal statement of newspaper’s name, officers, place of publication and other
descriptive information, usually on the editorial page.
Bureau A news-gathering office maintained by a newspaper at other than its central location.
Immediate-identification lead The opening paragraph of a story in which the "who" is reported by
name.
Delayed-identification lead Opening paragraph of a story in which the "who" is identified by occupation,
city, office, or any means other than by name.
Anecdotal lead A newspaper story beginning that uses humor or an interesting incident.
Banner
A headline extending across a page usually the front page of the newspaper
Binder
A small banner headline across an inside page
Dummy
A sheet or set of bound sheets made of blank paper and so marked as to indicate the position of
printing, illustrations and advertisements etc. of a proposed newspaper page or magazine page
Ears
The spaces to the right and left of the name of the paper on the first page. Generally used for
advertisement purposes.
Flush
Set against the margin without indention. A left flush head is set with all lines beginning at the left hand
side column
Hanging indentation
Indentation that results when the first line is set full and succeeding lines in the same paragraph are
indented from the left hand side.
Jump
To continue a story from one page to the next or from one column to another. Also called ‘breaking’ and
‘continuing’
Must.
An order written on copy indicating that the story must be printed.
Morgue
The newspaper or broadcasting station library