20 Common Journalism Terms for Writers

Journalists are known to casually toss around phrases like “byline,” “story angle,” and “primary sources,” but do most people truly understand these journalistic concepts? A 2018 study conducted by the American Press Institute revealed that many adults were unfamiliar with key journalism terms such as attribution and op-ed, and only 30 percent knew the difference between an editorial and a news story. 

(5 Different Forms of Journalism.)

Interestingly, a majority of respondents accurately described what anonymous sourcing involves. While most professions have their own unique jargon, journalism can directly impact society, so it’s important that we learn these terms to form a clearer understanding of how the news gathering process works.

By now, I believe the public is more knowledgeable about media practices. That said, here’s a helpful list of common terms used in journalism.

Assignment. When a reporter is given an assignment or is ‘on assignment,’ it’s referring to a particular story that they’ve been asked to cover by a publication or other media outlet.

Attribution. In journalism, attribution simply means crediting the source of information in a news story, whether it’s a quote or documentation. This means identifying individuals involved whenever possible, using their full name and job title. This solidifies their relevance to the story and will not only strengthen the piece but add credibility to the publication. Exceptions are made when a source or contact is in danger, is under 18, will be compromised if their identity is revealed, or someone who has explicitly asked not to be quoted or be ‘on the record.’ According to The Associated Press guidelines on attribution, a source’s name, title, age, and hometown should be included where appropriate, in addition to the name of their company, organization or government department.

Beat. A “beat” in journalism refers to a particular area or topic a journalist covers on an ongoing basis. A beat can be territorial, where a reporter is assigned to cover a particular geographical area, such as the southeast for a national outlet, or a certain town or county for a local newspaper. Typically, local newspaper beats also include police, courts, and local government. Beats can be topical, including areas of expertise such as politics, lifestyle, crime, education, entertainment, and health. They can also be more specialized, such as White House reporter, foreign correspondent, or an embed with a political campaign.

Byline. This is what all writers covet: a byline, especially in a prestigious publication. Simply put, a byline is the author’s credit – the name of the journalist or writer who has written the story. It appears at the top of an article or at the end. It can sometimes include a photo, the writer’s professional title, and contact information.

Columnist. Columnists offer commentary and opinions, and many journalists enjoy sharing their thoughts on the latest news or events. A column is usually a recurring piece in a magazine, newspaper, or online, and is published daily, weekly, or monthly. But not all columns are opinionated, they can be about all kinds of topics, from gardening and food to business and journalism.

Copy. Copy is the written text of an article only. It does not include other elements, like headlines, photos, graphics, or video.

Correspondent. A correspondent is a reporter who covers a specialized area, or reports on-the-scene from abroad, for media outlets like TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines. Foreign correspondents are stationed in several countries worldwide, and others report on the news and issues of a whole region, such as the Middle East. There are also war correspondents, who report on armed conflicts and humanitarian crises, business correspondents who cover the economy, finance, and trade, and political correspondents covering elections and campaigns.

Editorial. An editorial is an article that reflects the opinion of the publishers or senior editors of a newspaper or magazine. They focus on topical issues and subjects. They do not normally have a byline.

5 W’s plus H. We’ve all heard of the five W’s (and H) — the who, what, when, where, why, and how of storytelling. In news writing the answers to these questions will be the framework of an article.

General Assignment Reporter. A general assignment reporter covers a wide range of stories and topics for newspapers, news websites, and television stations. Since they’re not confined to a particular beat, they could be writing all kinds of stories in any given week, from local council meetings and community events to business news and election campaigns.

Headline. A headline is the title of an article or news item that attracts the reader’s attention, drawing them in to learn more. A strong headline is important, but if written in a sensationalist manner, they can also be misleading at times.

Inverted Pyramid. A news article is formulaic, and some professionals swear by the traditional inverted pyramid structure, or what is also referred to as “front-loading,” where the details are presented in order of importance. The most important information is inserted in the lede paragraph of the story, which should quickly grab the reader’s attention. The next paragraph or “nut graph” gives the story context, tells people why they should care and why it’s timely. A nut graph is designed to hold the reader’s attention and convince them to keep reading. The rest of the article includes supplemental information and quotes. A piece usually concludes with a possible solution or a next step in the process, for example, ‘the council will meet again in May to discuss the planning proposals.’

Lede/Lead. A lede or lead is the first sentence or paragraph of an article, summarizing the story with the most important information, the who, what, where, when, and how. It’s designed to quickly grab the reader’s attention, set the tone, and spark interest.

Libel. Libel refers to a false statement of fact, that is usually written or printed with the intention of defaming a person’s character. Opinions cannot be libelous. Slander is different and refers to the spoken word.

News Story. A news story is a factual account of current events, usually a previously unknown story, that is presented with objectivity and balance. News stories can be written and recorded live or taped, packaged in a variety of formats, and published in print publications, on television news, radio shows, and a variety of online news platforms. News is meant to inform and not influence the public, and is written in a straightforward style, that’s easy to understand and digest. A news story is often referred to as ‘hard news’ to differentiate it from softer news items such as sports reports.

Op-ed. The term ‘op-ed’ is derived from its placement opposite a newspaper’s editorial page. An op-ed piece is a short opinion piece (300 to 700 words) written by someone not associated with or employed by the publication. Opinion articles offer an opportunity for journalists to freely express what they think and feel, while simultaneously presenting a cogent argument to back it up. Topics covered can include politics, trends, timely events, or a new policy. In 2021, The New York Times decided to retire the term “op-ed” and instead use “Guest Essays” in reference to opinion pieces written by outside contributors.

Pitch. A pitch in journalism is the written presentation of a story idea to an editor. Some people also call it a query. Freelance writers and journalists are far too familiar with this term. Like a sales pitch, a query will try to persuade an editor that a story idea is worth publishing, because of its importance, timeliness, impact, and value to the audience.

Source. A source in journalism can refer to a person, interview, speech, document, video, an official record, data, book, or article. This is the information reporters rely on to build a strong, credible, and substantive story. There are two types of sources, primary and secondary. A primary source is firsthand evidence, raw information, and original research material. It can be an interview the journalist conducted with someone who witnessed or participated in an event or has direct knowledge of a subject, or the material written by such an eyewitness (a diary, report, or transcript). It can refer to data and statistics, results of polls and surveys, government documents (such as reports of legislative sessions), photographs, or video. Sources also include audio recordings, speeches, and interviews with government officials, business leaders, politicians, and organizations. A secondary source is citation, commentary, interpretation of, or an analysis of a primary source – an article, book, a reference to an existing interview, or a review of data or research. Using secondary source material means a journalist did not experience the event firsthand and did not conduct the research themselves, so they are one step removed from the primary source. An anonymous source is someone who provides information but does not reveal their identity to the journalist. It can also refer to a source who is known to the journalist and editorial staff but does not want to reveal their identity publicly. Most people have probably heard of incidents where courts have attempted to force journalists to reveal their sources.

Story Angle. An angle in journalism is how a story is approached, its point of view or perspective. A journalist can present a story from many different viewpoints that engage and inform the audience. For example, if a journalist is assigned to cover a hurricane’s aftermath, they could generate stories from many angles. Human interest stories are the most impactful. It could be a general report on all the damage and losses, injuries and fatalities, the devastation in a particular town, or an in-depth look at one family’s loss. It could be a retelling of a dramatic survival incident, a piece on the work of rescuers, how animals are being saved from floods, or the story of a mule train packing in supplies to desperate victims in hard-to-reach areas.

Stringer. A stringer is a freelance reporter, videographer, or photographer, who is assigned by a media outlet to cover stories on an ongoing basis. They are not an employee and usually cover a particular beat, whether a specialty or geographical area.

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The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is a practical, informative, and well-researched introduction to journalism and its best practices, with actionable advice, tips, techniques, explanations, and anecdotes straight from the field. In this digital guide, writers will learn how to write an effective news piece, skills need to be an effective journalist, outlets for publishing journalism, journalism associations, and so much more. Both inspirational and pragmatic, The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is packed with valuable resources for aspiring journalists.

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