15 journalism terms to know
Every industry has its own jargon, and journalism is no exception. Drawing inspiration from Poynter’s article, here are 15 journalism terms that you might not know, but could come in handy as you work with anyone from magazine editors to TV news crews.
A1: The front page of a newspaper, where the most important news stories of the day are featured.
Angle: The viewpoint a journalist takes in presenting the story, shaping how the narrative is framed, and which elements are emphasized to spur interest or aid understanding.
Exclusive: A news story or interview published by one journalist or outlet first, before other outlets. Also when a journalist or outlet is given sole access to report on a story.
Cutline: The caption line for a photo. For example: “Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Khalil Shakir (10) during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)”
B-roll: Supplemental footage used to complement a story in broadcast, typically accompanied by a voiceover narration. The footage usually provides visual context for viewers.
Feature: A feature story goes beyond breaking news to provide a deeper exploration of a topic or human interest story.
News hook: A compelling angle or timely element that makes a story relevant and newsworthy. It often ties a story to current events, trends, or public interest topics to enhance its appeal.
Soft news: Lighter, human-interest stories (e.g., a feature story about your local library).
Hard news: Serious, breaking stories (e.g., a breaking news crime segment).
Sound byte: Typically, a snippet of an interview.
FOIA: An acronym for the Freedom of Information Act, often used by journalists and interested citizens requesting public records and information from public or governmental institutions.
Enterprise: In-depth, original reporting that goes beyond routine news coverage, often uncovering untold stories or providing deeper context through investigative work, data analysis, or feature storytelling. It typically requires initiative, creativity, and significant time and resources to produce. In the newsroom hierarchy, reporters have historically worked toward earning venerated enterprise reporting positions.
Lead (or lede): The opening sentence or paragraphs of a story that usually provide the most important facts or an anecdote illustrative of a larger topic or point the story makes to grab the reader’s attention.
Off the record: When a person provides information, but the source and reporter agree the information won’t be used in a published story in a way attributable to them.
On background: Information provided that is used, but not attributed.
If you have questions or need assistance pitching journalists, reach out to the University Relations PR team at unews@umn.edu.