This article is part of a series on news literacy designed to educate readers to better judge the reliability of news reports and other sources of information.

Over the years, phrases such as media bias, fake news and spin have become popular. While these terms are useful in describing specific phenomena, unfortunately, people throw around these terms so casually that we may forget what they actually mean.

In order to have a better-informed conversation about media issues, here’s a handy guide with definitions of the most commonly talked-about news terms.

This glossary of key media-related words is based on the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, and contains links so you can see the full definitions.

A – B – C – D – E – F – G – H – I – J – K – L – M – N – O – P – Q – R – S – T – U – V – W – X – Y – Z

A

accuracy

1. freedom from mistake or error (correctness)
2. conformity to truth or to a standard or model (precision)

accountability

1. the quality or state of being accountable
2. an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions

advertising

1. the action of calling something to the attention of the public especially by paid announcements
2. the business of preparing advertisements for publication or broadcast

advocacy

the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal

agenda

1. a list or outline of things to be considered or done
2. an underlying often ideological plan or program

analysis

a detailed examination of anything complex in order to understand its nature or to determine its essential features

anchorman

a broadcaster (as on a news program) who introduces reports by other broadcasters and usually reads the news

angle

1. the figure formed by two lines extending from the same point
2. the direction from which someone or something is approached
3. the precise viewpoint from which something is observed or considered
4. a special approach, point of attack, or technique for accomplishing an objective

assertion

a declaration that something is the case

attribution

the act of attributing something (the identification of a speaker or source)

audience

1. a group of listeners or spectators
2. a reading, viewing, or listening public

B

background

1. information essential to understanding of a problem or situation (background information)
2. with the understanding that information offered for publication will not be attributed to a specific source (speaking on background)

balance

1. physical equilibrium
2. stability produced by even distribution of weight on each side of the vertical axis
3. equipoise between contrasting, opposing, or interacting elements

bias

1. an inclination of temperament or outlook; especially a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment (prejudice).
2. an instance of such prejudice.
3. systematic error introduced into sampling or testing by selecting or encouraging one outcome or answer over others

boilerplate

1. standardized text
2. formulaic or hackneyed language

byline

a line at the beginning of a news story, magazine article, or book giving the writer’s name

C

caption

1. the part of a legal document that shows where, when, and by what authority it was taken, found, or executed
2. the explanatory comment or designation accompanying a pictorial illustration
3. a movie or television show subtitle

censor

to examine in order to suppress or delete anything considered objectionable

clickbait

something (such as a headline) designed to make readers want to click on a hyperlink especially when the link leads to content of dubious value or interest

commentary

1. a systematic series of explanations or interpretations
2. an expression of opinion

communication

a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior

conflict of interest

a conflict between the private interests and the official responsibilities of a person in a position of trust

consumer

one that consumes: such as one that utilizes economic goods

content

1. the topics or matter treated in a written work
2. the principal substance (as written matter, illustrations, or music) offered by a World Wide Web site

context

1. the parts of a discourse that surround a word or passage and can throw light on its meaning
2. the interrelated conditions in which something exists or occurs

correspondent

1. one who communicates with another by letter
2. one who contributes news or commentary to a publication (such as a newspaper) or a radio or television network often from a distant place

credibility

the quality or power of inspiring belief

D

dateline

a line in a written document or a printed publication giving the date and place of composition or issue

deadline

1. a date or time before which something must be done
2. the time after which copy is not accepted for a particular issue of a publication

defamation

the act of communicating false statements about a person that injure the reputation of that person

discourse

1. verbal interchange of ideas
2. formal and orderly and usually extended expression of thought on a subject

disinformation

false information deliberately and often covertly spread (as by the planting of rumors) in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth

distort

1. to twist out of the true meaning or proportion (to alter to give a false or unnatural picture or account)
2. to twist out of a natural, normal, or original shape or condition

E

edit

1. to prepare (something, such as literary material) for publication or public presentation
2. to assemble (something, such as a moving picture or tape recording) by cutting and rearranging
3. to alter, adapt, or refine especially to bring about conformity to a standard or to suit a particular purpose

editorialize

1. to express an opinion in the form of an editorial
2. to introduce opinion into the reporting of facts

evaluate

1. to determine or fix the value of
2. to determine the significance, worth, or condition of usually by careful appraisal and study

evidence

something that furnishes proof

F

facts

1. something that has actual existence
2. an actual occurrence
3. a piece of information presented as having objective reality
4. the quality of being actual

fake

not true, real, or genuine

freedom of information

established public access to government information

freedom of the press

the right of newspapers, magazines, etc., to report news without being controlled by the government

freedom of speech/expression

the right to express one’s opinions freely

freelance

1. a mercenary soldier especially of the Middle Ages
2. a person who acts independently without being affiliated with or authorized by an organization
3. a person who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any one employer

fourth estate

the public press

G

gag order

a judicial ruling barring public disclosure or discussion (as by the press) of information related to a case

I

imbalance

lack of balance: the state of being out of equilibrium or out of proportion

independent

1. not dependent, such as being subject to control by others or affiliated with a larger controlling unit
2. not looking to others for one’s opinions or for guidance in conduct
3. not requiring or relying on others

infer

1. to derive as a conclusion from facts or premises
2. to guess or surmise
3. to suggest or hint

information

1. knowledge that you get about someone or something
2. facts or details about a subject

interpret

1. to explain the meaning of (something)
2. to conceive in the light of individual belief, judgment, or circumstance (interpret a contract)

J

journalism

1. the collection and editing of news for presentation through the media (the process)
2. the public press (the collective industry of news)
3. writing (or video or audio) characterized by a direct presentation of facts or description of events without an attempt at interpretation

journalist

a person engaged in journalism

judgment

1. the process of forming an opinion or evaluation by discerning and comparing
2. an opinion or estimate so formed

K

knowledge

1. information, understanding, or skill that you get from experience or education
2. awareness of something, the state of being aware of something

M

mass media

1. a medium of communication (as newspapers, radio, or television) that is designed to reach the mass of the people —usually used in plural (media)
2. members of the mass media

medium

1. a particular form or system of communication (such as newspapers, radio, or television)
2. the materials or methods used by an artist

moderator

one who presides over an assembly, meeting, or discussion

N

news

1. a report of recent events (referring to the finished product)
2. previously unknown information (something “newsworthy”)

news agency

an organization that supplies news to subscribing newspapers, periodicals, and newscasters

newspaper

a paper that is printed and distributed usually daily or weekly and that contains news, articles of opinion, features, and advertising

newsworthy

interesting enough to the general public to warrant reporting

O

objectivity

1. expressing or dealing with facts or conditions as perceived without distortion by personal feelings, prejudices, or interpretations
2. limited to choices of fixed alternatives and reducing subjective factors to a minimum

off-the-record

given or made in confidence and not for publication

omission

1. something neglected or left undone
2. the act of omitting

opinion

1. a view, judgement or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter
2. belief, stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge

P

periodical

1. published with a fixed interval between the issues or numbers
2. a periodical publication

plagiarize

to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own

prejudice

1. a preconceived judgment or opinion
2. an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge
3. an instance of such judgment or opinion
4. an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics

(the) press

the people (such as reporters and photographers) who work for newspapers, magazines, etc.

press release

an official statement that gives information to newspapers, magazines, television news programs, and radio stations

propaganda

1. the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person (the act)
2. ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one’s cause or to damage an opposing cause (the misinformation)

proportion

1. harmonious relation of parts to each other or to the whole
2. proper or equal share
3. the relation of one part to another or to the whole with respect to magnitude, quantity, or degree

public

1. exposed to general view (open)
2. of, relating to, or affecting all the people or the whole area of a nation or state
3. of or relating to business or community interests as opposed to private affairs
4. supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by income from commercials (such as public television)

public interest

1. the general welfare and rights of the public that are to be recognized, protected, and advanced
2. a specific public benefit or stake in something

publisher

one that publishes something (a person or corporation whose business is publishing)

pundit

a person who gives opinions in an authoritative manner usually through the mass media

R

reporter

1. a person employed by a newspaper, magazine, or television company to gather and report news
2. a person who broadcasts news

retraction

an act of recanting

rumor

1. talk or opinion widely disseminated with no discernible source
2. a statement or report current without known authority for its truth

S

sensationalism

the use or effect of sensational subject matter or treatment

sidebar

a short news story or graphic accompanying and presenting sidelights of a major story

social media

forms of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content

source

1. a generative force
2. a point of origin or procurement
3. one that initiates
4. one that supplies information

spin

1. to (cause to) turn around and around, especially fast
2. to evolve, express, or fabricate by processes of mind or imagination
3. to present (as information) with a particular spin

standard

1. a conspicuous object (such as a banner) formerly carried at the top of a pole and used to mark a rallying point especially in battle or to serve as an emblem
2. something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example
3. something set up and established by authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, weight, extent, value, or quality

stringer

a reporter who works for a publication or news agency on a part-time basis

survey

1. to examine as to condition, situation, or value
2. to query (someone) in order to collect data for the analysis of some aspect of a group or area

T

tabloid

a newspaper that is about half the page size of an ordinary newspaper and that contains news in condensed form and much photographic matter

terminology

the technical or special terms used in a business, art, science, or special subject

transparent

1. able to be seen through
2. easy to notice or understand
3. honest and open; not secretive

trust

1. assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something
2. one in which confidence is placed

truth

1. the body of real things, events, and facts
2. the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality

V

verify

to establish the truth, accuracy, or reality of

W

wire service

a news agency that sends out syndicated news copy to subscribers by wire or by satellite transmission

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