Jargon used in Journalism: How we Cheese Argot in Newsrooms (T to Z)

Journalism Jargon T to Z or go to previous H to S

Talkback: (a) A type of radio program in which the presenter invites listeners to telephone in and speak on air (b) Two-way intercom equipment by which a radio or television presenter or newsreader in a studio can communicate with producers or directors in a control room.

Tease, or Bumpers in broadcast: It refers to materials promoting a story which ‘teases’ the reader or listener by hinting at but not revealing the real story. “Meet the journalist who suffered from a phobia for English. Find out why in the next part of this article/program.’

Technobabble: That’s confusing technical jargon for you

The Rushes: Early edited version of video or film that needs further editing. In other words, The Rushes are the unedited materials

Thirty or ‘30’ in text (US): Reporters used to type "30" at the end of copy to signify the end of the article. It is retired now, replaced by the word "end" or three hashes "###". Read Hadass Kogan's explanation here.

Throw: Where one person on-air ‘throws’ the task of presentation to someone else. Example: ‘And now we go to our reporter who is at the scene ...’

Vox Pop, or Streeters: From the Latin vox populi ‘voice of the people’, short interviews where members of the public are stopped at random, often on the streets or public areas, and asked questions

Wob: In my college days, a wob was someone who lacked social skills or was ‘bad’ with girls. In journalism, a wob is the white text on a black or dark coloured background. Cute, is it not?

5 Ws and the H (WWWW & H): The ‘Who,’ ‘What,’ ‘Where,’ ‘When,’ ‘Why,’ and the ‘How’: The six most important questions journalists are expected to ask and his news stories should answer

Standfirst: It is the line of text right after the headline that gives more information about the article

Zinger: This one is one of my favorites, more so because we used the term in college to describe girls who were, well, good in hijacking the thermometer. In other words, ‘hot.’ That is, if you were “hot” girl, you were a ‘Zinger’! My English Honors class in Patkai Christian College had quite a population of Zingers, you see.

Oh well, but in journalism, ‘Zinger’ is an unusual and generally humorous feature story often placed at the end of a story, or a newscast. How boring is that?

I shall be updating the jargon as more inventions come up. Which is your favorite? 

go to previous H to S   

Tweet

Pin It