1927 Radio Commission
The FCC followed the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) of 1927, which focused on radio regulation and broadcast licensing. The 1927 Radio Commission was created after the negative aftermaths of unregulated wireless radio during the early twentieth century. The Federal Communications Act of 1934, which created the FCC, built upon the acts and the FRC.
accuracy
Accuracy acts as a principle value and practice within the journalism industry. Journalists strive to provide factual and credible information to their audiences, which occurs through fact-checking, transparency, and corrections.
acquisition
Acquisitions, like mergers, involve the changed ownership of companies. While a merger refers to the combination of two or more companies to create a new business entity, an acquisition describes the situation of a company taking over another business. Therefore, acquisitions do not result in a new company like mergers. Acquisitions may occur to allow a company to reach different audiences or to compete in a new market that they previously lacked access to. For example, Google acquired Android in 2005 for over $50 million dollars, which allowed Google to work within the cell phone market for the first time.
activist
An activist is an individual who campaigns and raises awareness for a particular political or social issue, often with the intention to change current political policies.
advocate
An advocate is a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.
agenda
Agenda setting describes the news media’s impact on influencing what audiences think about. In other words, news organizations have the ability to influence what information, or topics, hold priority and importance on the public’s agenda and within consumers’ minds.
algorithms
Algorithms refer to the coding and processing rules that run operations within online settings. Social media and websites use algorithms to keep audience engagement. For instance, if recorded data shows a particular user enjoys romantic comedy movies, then the algorithm may suggest other romantic comedy movies to appear in the person’s feed.
alien
An alien in this case is a foreigner, especially one who is not a naturalized citizen of the country where they are living.
ambivalent
Being ambivalent means one has mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.
anti-democracy
The anti-democracy movement is an opposing and potentially hostile movement that challenges the theories or policies of democracy. The goal is to halt or overturn democratic elections and instate a totalitarian government.
anti-media
Anti-media refers to the stance of being against traditional or mainstream media outlets. People who are anti-media may be against or hostile toward media organizations and the press. For instance, an individual who distrusts a media organization may recurrently leave negative comments on the group’s content, doubting the organization’s reporting and information. These individuals may write online comments attacking the media company and their workers. Furthermore, when interacting with a media employee, someone who is anti-media may refuse to participate in an interview or participate in hostile acts (e.g., screaming at a reporter).
anti-vaxxer
An anti-vaxxer is a person who is opposed to vaccination. This movement has been around since 1796 when the first vaccine for smallpox was introduced but recently resurfaced with the COVID-19 pandemic.
antitrust
Antitrust laws or antitrust polices refer to legislation that monitors business acquisitions and mergers to ensure that the changing market decisions are legal and beneficial for the industry environment (e.g., not creating an unlawful monopoly power). Antitrust laws were created to help monitor and maintain the competition within industries, ensuring companies aren’t taking too much market power and participating in illegal activities. Antitrust laws work to ensure that companies are not completing violations like price fixing, which establishes prices among vendors that are unlawful and inappropriate for the product. Three pieces of legislation comprise the prominent antitrust legislation, including the Sherman Antitrust Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Clayton Antitrust Act. Therefore, antitrust laws — as such — work to avoid anti-competitive mergers, which occur when companies merge and lessen the competition within the relevant market.
attention economy
Attention economy is a principle that views human attention as a scarce commodity to be competed for. In the digital age, advertisers and content creators try to make their message known and capture people’s attention. Content creators use analytics and algorithms to create products that others will be interested in and take time out of their day to consume — even when given the opportunity to engage with other types of media messaging. Humans are constantly bombarded with messaging, so information sources try to use market research to captivate audiences’ attention and influence individuals’ ideals. People’s attention is limited and valuable to media companies, especially advertising agencies who want the most eyes on their products.
For instance, the attention economy causes some news and media companies to create click-bait content with attention-grabbing headlines. At times, the headline does not correspond with the substance of the content. Instead, that attention-grabbing headline was only used to generate a larger audience.
authenticity
Authenticity refers to the quality of being legitimate or genuine.
Authentic media and content refer to products that stay true to their brand, rather than conforming to other standards. Advertisers try to make their content appear authentic to appeal audiences and build trust. Consumers and audiences often judge the authenticity of content based on the company’s or individual’s previous appearances and branding. If an individual changes their values or promotes something that went against their previous stance, then the individual could be viewed an inauthentic and disingenuous. For instance, if a company knowingly advocates for animal rights, but partners with a group known to participate in harmful activities, then that could cause claims of inauthentic marketing.
Companies, content and individuals often appear inauthentic if their brand voice changes and they present themselves differently to their audiences – especially, when the ideals or values are contradictory. These groups may focus on outside competition and change their presentation and marketing style. If a particular trend is performing well in digital platforms, an entity may jump on the bandwagon, seemingly abandoning their typical brand style. Authenticity could also be related to the type of content being covered, the types of keywords used in marketing endeavors, and the promotional partners being worked with — among others.
bad actors
A bad actor is an online account or presence that engages in inappropriate actions online like spreading misinformation or causing confrontations. Some examples of bad actors include trolls and social media bots.
beat reporter
A beat reporter focuses on reporting about a particular community and the issues facing that area and the individuals operating within it. Beat reporters may also focus on a particular subject matter like sports or community arts, developing connections within that industry and an understanding about how the industry operates. These reporters build trust with the people in the community, so people know they aren’t just going to report on a negative event or tragedy and leave. By staying in particular areas for coverage and reporting, these reporters developed sustained conversations, building trust and reliability among those in the community. It cultivates subject matter expertise as well by focusing on a particular project or area.
bias
Bias or biases involve pre-established viewpoints individuals have about certain topics, people or causes, which can influence their behaviors and reporting practices.
Blue Book
The Blue Book, also known officially as the Public Service Responsibility of Broadcast Licensees report of 1946, was issued by the FCC. Within the report, the FCC noted a desire to require United States radio broadcasters to follow established public service requirements. The report focused on one of the FCC’s principles relating to ensuring communication systems followed and adhered to the public interest—what would benefit a majority of people and democracy. The report shared values that stations should put limits on advertising, contain children’s programming, showcase the diversity of the area, possess local content, and showcase the economy of the time.
boots on the ground
The expression “boots on the ground” refers to instances when journalists are physically located in the communities that they are covering. They regularly attend events and government meetings in person, so they have a sense of the broader community context for their stories.
breaking news
Breaking news events are timely incidents that are transpiring in the moment that the public should be informed about. Some examples include a tornado warning, the death of a celebrity, or a natural disaster.
brigading
Brigading refers to a coordinated attack by a group of social media users to make something or someone appear more or less popular than they truly are. An example of this would be a group of people downvoting a particular comment in an online forum, hoping to redirect audiences’ focus to other matters.
butterfly attack
The term butterfly attack describes the online behavior where imposters try to copy and mimic the behaviors of a social group. Often, butterfly attacks build on social prejudices, harming representation efforts. Pranksters and extremists tend to create parody accounts, using fake (but official-looking) social media accounts. On the accounts, the individuals often lead disinformation campaigns, presenting false or ill content to audiences.
campaign
In media and marketing departments, a campaign refers to a prepared project executed through a particular medium with a designated purpose or messaging.
centrist
Centrists are people that hold moderate political views. This means that they do not advocate solely for left or right ideals and the movement hopes to balance the political spectrum.
Chelsea Manning
Chelsea Manning is an American activist and whistleblower. She leaked classified military records about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to WikiLeaks, while serving as an army intelligence analyst.
Chevron Doctrine
Also referred to as the Chevron Deference. When a legislative document is ambiguous and unclear about its proper meaning, the Chevron Doctrine allows governmental bodies and agencies to interpret the law.
It was established by the United States Supreme Court through Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, which occurred in 1984. It allows agencies like the FCC to interpret and consider the meaning of an unclear legal matter’ within the agency’s expertise and jurisdiction.
citizen journalism
Citizen journalism involves journalism practices (e.g., dissemination of information) conducted by individuals who are not trained, professional journalists. Citizen journalism was made easier by social media and digital technologies. Citizen journalists include individuals who intend to report on news as well as those who simply share information on social media that is newsworthy.
An example of citizen journalism would be when a regular citizen shares a video that they took of a tornado traveling through their local community. Sharing that video would be an act of citizen journalism. Anyone can be a citizen journalist.
civic engagement
Civic engagement refers to people’s participation in topics of public and social concern, especially activities relating to political or nonprofit organizations that benefit the greater community or spur positive change within society. For example, this includes activities like volunteering (e.g. at community gardens or food pantries) and electoral participation.
column
In the journalism industry, a column is a regular feature in a newspaper where a columnist writes about timely topics, expressing their opinion for audiences.
Comcast-NBC Universal Merger
Also known as: the acquisition of NBC Universal by Comcast.
Comcast began acquiring NBC Universal in 2011, purchasing shares in the company. However, the telecommunications company publicly announced its decision to acquire the company from General Electric (NBC Universal’s previous owner) a few years prior. Some regulators addressed concerns that the acquisition would eliminate competition among video competitors. To make the deal go through and be approved by the government, Comcast agreed to dissolve its rights and stakes within Hulu.
competition
Competition refers to the activity or quality of making one’s product or service stand out amongst the target audience of consumers compared to other businesses and organizations in the industry. When multiple companies with comparable products are competing for consumer support, they may attempt to lower their costs to be most desirable or improve the quality of their content to garner the most support. Antitrust laws help ensure that companies compete against others, rather than being the sole face in the industry as a monopoly. Competition sparks increased variety and innovations within a market, besides helping to maintain fair price points and quality products.
consciousness-raising
Consciousness-raising is the activity of seeking to make people more aware of social or political issues. An example would be talking about a cause to bring it into the social sphere.
conservative
Conservative refers to a political viewpoint that promotes the preservation of traditional institutions, practices, and values. People who agree with conservative ideas tend to support the maintaining of economic, social, and political traditions.
conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theories refer to explanations or philosophies regarding a particular event or situation that large groups believe. Conspiracy theories often center around suspicion of groups, individuals, or organizations (e.g., political figures). Conspiracy theories often center around the belief that clandestine operations and plots influenced notable events in the world. Some individuals advocate for the idea that Princess Diana was murdered (rather than a car accident), that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were plotted by the U.S. government, or that the 1969 NASA moon landing was a hoax. All of these are popular conspiracy theories discussed in certain social circles.
constituent
Constituents are individuals in a society who a particular government official or political figure represents during legislative developments.
For instance, Pennsylvania voters elected politicians John Fetterman and Bob Casey to the US Senate. The senators’ role is to represent their constituents’ viewpoints during debates and legislative decision making. The constituents had the opportunity to vote for their representatives during annual elections.
content moderation
Content moderation involves checking user-generated content to ensure it adheres to community guidelines and the accepted behaviors permitted on an online site or platform.
context
Context refers to the situations or circumstances (aka: background information) surrounding an event. Readers need context to orient themselves when consuming information they are unfamiliar with.
controlling
To control means to direct and supervise how something runs or behaves.
The internet is not controlled by a singular entity; however, access and regulation of the internet can be controlled and influenced by governments through laws and by corporations that own internet infrastructure.
Some experts believe that mega-corporations like Alphabet (Google), Amazon, and Meta Platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) currently have the majority of power and influence over the internet.
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide the majority of the internet infrastructure including cables and routers, and are owned in part by telecommunication companies (like AT&T, Comcast, etc.).
Net neutrality is a hot topic. This is the concept that ISPs should treat all data the same and not prioritize certain data over others. Antitrust policies can ensure that no single ISP can control the entire market.
Some governments have attempted to regulate parts of the internet through laws that prohibit certain sites or certain users. Because this can become a type of censorship, this kind of regulation creates concerns about free speech.
critical race theory
Critical race theory (CRT) is a cross-disciplinary examination of how laws, social and political are shaped by the concepts of race and ethnicity.
critical race theory
Critical Race Theory (CRT) involves the study of how perceptions of race and ethnicity in society impact legislation, social movements, political ideologies and media.
cultural moment
A pop culture moment or cultural moment refers to events happening instantaneously around the world and that catch the public’s attention through media content.
cultural ripple effect
A cultural ripple effect refers to the impact/aftermath caused within a culture or society after an event. For instance, a destructive hurricane would cause cultural ripple effects like increased volunteerism in the area and the reconstruction of lost property.
culture
Culture involves the collective or shared components of a group of people (e.g., a nation or community). Culture typically involves components like art and social customs.
current events
Current events refers to the idea of timely occurrences (political, popular culture, or social) transpiring at the moment. Journalists work to cover current events.
cynicism
Cynicism is the belief that people are only motivated by self-interest. An example of cynicism would be believing that the people you work with are horrible people that just want to take your position.
delineation
Delineation is the act of indicating the exact position of a border or boundary.
democracy
Democracy is a form of government in which people have a voice in the deliberation about political decisions. In some democratic settings, constituents choose legislative representatives to vocalize the groups’ viewpoints during political deliberations.
demographic
A demographic is a particular division or subset of a population categorized by particular factors related to the identify of an individual. These include age, sex, education, nationality, ethnicity, or religion.
digital
Many media outlets transitioned from analog (e.g., paperback books and magazines), to digital media, which involves information shared via devices like podcasts and electronic books.
digital organizing
Digital organizing is a phenomenon in which people use digital technologies for outreach and organizing mass efforts. Digital organizing could entail emailing a petition or sharing social media posts to encourage people to participate in an upcoming protest.
disinformation
Disinformation is false information intended to mislead or deceive. For instance, government-based propaganda would be an example of disinformation because the entity that created the content desired to mislead recipients of that messaging.
diversity
Diversity refers to the quality of capturing multiple perspectives and including people from a wide range of different backgrounds and demographics. When capturing a news story, the organization could capture diverse sources by ensuring they talk to people of multiple ethnicities, genders, and social classes.
If a media company is covering a story about politics, they could interview diverse perspectives from various political parties to ensure they are better capturing the entire population. Diversity could also refer to age, religion, culture, social class, ethnic/racial identity, gender identity, disability status, and occupation, among others.
doomscrolling
Doomscrolling is an activity where people continuously scroll through their social media feed, often for long periods of time and involving negative or challenging content.
doxing
Doxing refers to the act of researching and sharing people’s personal information online, usually as a malicious form of intimidation. For example, someone may post personal information like someone’s address, place of work, or children’s names.
economies of scale
Economies of scale refers to the savings a company experiences in costs through increased production levels. In other words, economies of scale can be defined as the cost advantages that come with efficient production. The larger a company is, the more cost savings it will experience. Consequently, they will also experience larger production levels.
For instance, if a supermarket or department store buys products in bulk, then they may experience a discount for the larger order. Therefore, they saved money and produced a lower average cost for each of those goods. Economies of scale also explain why smaller businesses may charge more for a product than a larger company. The cost that they can charge per unit is higher, since the larger companies may receive discounts for ordering in a large bulk quantity.
editorialize
To editorialize refers to the activity of expressing one’s opinions or thoughts about a news topic, rather than reporting on the matter objectively. Oftentimes, news organizations designate sections on their platforms where reporters editorialize about modern issues and current events (e.g., sharing their opinions about general topics like gun violence or recent events like a recently passed legislation). This type of content may be labeled as “Opinion,” “Column,” “Editorial,” or a comparable designation. Columnists often work on editorialized content for legacy and traditional media outlets, providing a consistent voice for this type of content.
Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden worked as a computer intelligence consultant. In 2013, he leaked classified information from the National Security Agency for ethical reasons. His disclosure led to debates about government secrecy and surveillance efforts.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk is a billionaire who founded SpaceX and owns various other companies, including Twitter, Inc.
engagement
Engagement refers to a measure or level of audience interactions with social media and online engagement. Engagement is assessed according to the average amount of social media interactions that content receives in relationship to an account’s following base. Engagement metrics include the number of likes, the impressions and reach that the content had (how many accounts it reached) and the response rate. Many platforms provide a precise breakdown for the engagement demographics. For instance, companies may learn how many millennials engaged with the content and which gender was targeted most.
Facebook Files
The Facebook Files refers to released internal company research about the negative impacts of the social media platform.
fact check
Content is fact checked when independent sources verify the information’s veracity and accuracy with outside sources, providing the content to be reliable to trust. If information is found to be lacking context or spreading lies, fact checkers flag the content and make users aware.
facts
Facts are true, proven and known components of a news story. Facts can be backed and supported by outside resources like empirical data, research, and observations. Facts are objective, and they can be proven true or false based on reliable evidence. A journalist may gain facts through interviews or research to add to their story.
People can verify the statement, “The capital of Pennsylvania is Harrisburg,” using maps and exterior documents. Thus, it would be considered a fact.
Meanwhile, statements like, “State College is the best city in Pennsylvania,” is an opinion. It is not a fact because there people have different thoughts about this claim, and it cannot be verified.
Fairness Doctrine
As a policy issued by the FCC, The Fairness Doctrine demanded equal time and attention for different points of view within communication programming in service of the public interest. The Fairness Doctrine developed after monopoly concerns within broadcast network television with particular viewpoints gaining major publicity.
For instance, if a Republican point of view was showcased on a program, the organization would be urged to find Democratic, Libertarian, and Independent perspectives on the issue as well.
false narrative
False narratives involve the presentation of incorrect information regarding a particular situation. A news story could contain a false narrative if it falsely portrayed a situation or doesn’t provide necessary background information.
False narratives may develop due to insufficient information garnered from reporters due to the time sensitive nature of a news event. For example, when an accident happens, a reporter may not be able to receive all the information at that moment their article is due. Therefore, they may be sharing the incomplete story and not making that clear to readers about the information not entirely known. The information received could also be incorrect or change in time, causing misconceptions and miscommunication about a particular event. After an event is initially reported on with a false narrative, many audiences may have trouble seeing the updated information and continue believing the false information.
fatalism
Fatalism is the belief that all events are predetermined or inevitable. An example of fatalism is Romeo and Juliet, it was predetermined they would meet and die because of their meeting.
FCC
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was created in 1934 and acts as a government agency to regulate and monitor communication systems like radio, television, and wire systems within the United States.
The FCC works as an independent regulatory body consisting typically of five commissioners, although the number has varied throughout history. When five commissions hold office, there are typically 3 members from the majority political party that controls the White House and 2 from the minority party. Currently, there are only four commissioners operating within the FCC (with the Democrat party not filling their final majority spot) because of a holdout on the nomination for the fifth commissioner.
The FCC was established to bring order to the communication ecosystem and was later expanded to cover a wide breadth of telecommunication mediums. The organization works to advance telecommunications, helping it become available to the largest portion of people at reasonable and comparable prices to ensure competition and protect consumers. It also deals with national and international negotiations. They give licenses to airways, which are publicly owned by the people of the United States of America. A principle goal is to ensure that communication systems operate with the public interest in mind.
FCC commissioner
The FCC commissioners who the President of the United States appoints and the U.S. Senate confirms into office, manage the governmental agency, the FCC. They regulate and monitor interstate and international communication systems that occur via cable, radio, television, and more. Their role is to ensure a competitive and fair market that works in the public interest.
focus group
A small group of individuals comprise a focus group, providing their opinions about a particular idea, issue, or object, generally for market research purposes.
freedom of information
The freedom of information is a right that people possess to distribute and consume information.
gaslighting
Gaslighting refers to the act of intentionally manipulating someone into doubting themselves, twisting their reality, and questioning their own reasoning. A person who gaslights another may cause the victim to question their sanity or state of mind.
Gen-Z
Gen-Z or Generation Z is a demographic of the population which includes individuals born after the Millennials and before Generation Alpha. Although debated, researchers classify the mid-to-late 1990s through the early 2010s as the timeline for Gen-Z births.
generational divide
A generational divide involves differences in behaviors, opinions or beliefs between different age groups.
ghost newspaper
Ghost newspapers describe newspapers that still have a reputable name but no longer have the resources to offer adequate coverage of their community. One example is the Pottstown Mercury, where staff has decreased so much that reporters who used to cover a single topic now have to write multiple articles per day to try to keep up with local news.
government agency
Government agencies refer to organizations within the federal or state governments that oversee sectors or areas of jurisdiction. Examples include the FCC, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the United States Department of Defense, and the United States Department of Labor. The agencies are created by legislatures, typically either via Congress or a state legislation system.
grassroots
A grassroots movement refers to a social, political, or economic initiative spurred by the people within a community. Rather than attempting to create change through legislation, people may individually participate in grassroots efforts. The often self-organized and localized movements act to mobilize individuals around a central cause, causing advocacy for causes like women’s rights.
Grassroots initiatives may involve making phone calls and distributing information via communication mediums like email to spread the word about the movement. People may hang posters or gather people to sign a petition. Essentially, individuals involved in grassroots movements attempt to organize people in their local communities toward the cause. A grassroots movement includes the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s-60s where individuals were advocating for social change within their communities.
hate speech
Hate speech is a form of communication that entails threatening expression. It often includes demonstrating prejudice against another group (e.g., based on religion).
headline
A headline is the title given to a journalistic article that briefly and succinctly summarizes its contents. The role of the headline is to entice audiences to consume the media content further.
horizontal integration
Horizontal integration occurs when one (or a select few) businesses control a large part of the market at the production, distribution, or exhibition level of the supply chain. Horizontal integration often leads to monopolies and oligopolies with particular companies controlling a majority of a product or service. Oftentimes, companies obtain horizontal integration through mergers and acquisitions. Horizontal integration contrasts with vertical integration, which involves companies controlling multiple stages or components of the supply chain.
For instance, Marvel and DC Comics both possess horizontal integration at the production level because these companies control a majority of the content being produced in the industry. Other companies trying to produce comics would face trouble competing against Marvel and DC Comics due to the power they hold within the market. Comparably, another example of horizontal integration was Facebook’s acquisition of Instagram because both companies were part of the same industry, social media.
horse race journalism
journalistic reporting of political elections that resembles coverage of horse racing because the focus is on public perception and prediction, rather than candidate policy. It also tends to focus on differences rather than similarities. Also referred to as "horse race political journalism."
hot topic
A hot topic issue is a subject that many people are discussing and likely contains ranging views that spurs disagreements.
Some examples of current, hot topic issues include gun control, abortion, animal rights, vaccines, and climate change.
For many of these topics, people possess a range of views. Some people may desire extreme gun control to alleviate violence, while others advocate for 2nd Amendment rights to keep and bear arms. There are also people who hold beliefs in between the two extremes.
Hunter Biden Laptop Controvery
The Hunter Biden Laptop Controversy focused on social media content claiming President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, abandoned a laptop filled with data at a computer shop in 2020.
impersonating
When someone pretends to be another person (e.g., through a fake account online), they would be impersonating someone else.
impunity
Impunity is freedom from punishment, harm, or loss.
independently-owned outlet
An independently-owned media outlet is one that is not owned by a larger media corporation (e.g., Comcast, The Walt Disney Company), but rather, is an outlet that earns revenue from their own subscriptions, advertising, and fundraising. The number of independently-owned media outlets in the United States is steadily decreasing as local media is bought by larger media conglomerates such as Gannett and McClatchy.
infographics
Infographics act as visual diagrams, descriptions and charts that simplify complex topics or represent information and data in a comprehensive way.
informed public
An informed public is a community that understands local civic life and is knowledgeable about public and current events.
infotainment
Infotainment refers to content or programming that showcases information or news in an entertaining way. It refers to the blurred line between the news and entertainment. For instance, “infotainment” could be a news product that includes sensational elements like music or editing.
institutional practice
Institutional practices refer to the standard activities and protocols followed by people in a society. Institutional practices guide the following systems: criminal justice, education, health care, and social work.
intersectionality
Intersectionality is the overlapping nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group.
issue
An issue is a topic of journalistic coverage that guides the article writing conducted by reporters.
Reporters—or their editors—research the topics that are popular with the public and timely for coverage. Journalists may gain these insights by talking with people in the community or researching daily news events that they could write about.
If the journalist discovers an issue that they would like to cover, they may “pitch,” or present, it to their editor. If the editor approves their idea, they will be able to cover it. However, sometimes an editor will have a story that they will assign to a particular reporter. The indivduals who make these decisions about what topics to cover are called “gatekeepers” because they determine what information reaches audiences.
January 6
The reference to January 6, 2021 or the United States Capitol Attack refers to the events that followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential defeat.
journalist
A journalist is a trained professional who creates, prepares and distributes content for newspapers, magazines, broadcasts, and news websites. They follow basic ethical principles like accuracy, transparency and neutrality, which builds audience’s trust in the news being distributed. Journalists are not required to complete a certain education level or certification process in order to enter the profession. Some people enter the field with no experience. However, most journalists have a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
lede
The opening sentence or paragraph of a news article, summarizing the most important aspects of the story and often intended to entice the reader to read the full story.
This spelling of lede is a remnant from mid-20th century print journalism to differentiate it's meaning from the word "lead," which was a signal word to manual printers to begin a new line of text (using a metal strip made of lead).
local journalism
Local journalism refers to local newspapers, radio stations, and TV stations that cover day-to-day events in the area and thus, explain stories within the context of the community. Examples of local Pennsylvania newspapers include the Centre Daily Times, The Patriot-News, and The Gettysburg Times.
localism
Localism refers to the focus or concern dedicated to a smaller area or region. For instance, with regard to the food system, localism may refer to purchasing products from farmer’s markets or local community-supported farms. When reporting on the news or creating media that adheres to the public interest, organizations should cover local stories, including topics like community figures as well as the local economy and politics. When companies merge or are acquired within a larger corporation, fewer local issues are covered with the organization’s new focus often being on global or national topics. By focusing on broader content, corporations can take advantage of the economies of scale and use the content for larger audiences.
marquee
A marquee is an overarching idea. An example of this would be the marquee of the News Literary Initiative is to educate people on news media and public interest journalism, and how to understand how this impacts democracy
meaning-making
Meaning-making is the process a person goes through to understand a new life event or topic
media ecology
Media ecology refers to the study of media communications and its impact or relationship on humans’ thoughts, feelings, understandings, and interactions with the world. Media ecology emphasizes how different media environments relate to and shape modern society and people’s lives.
media landscape
The media landscape, or the digital landscape, refers to the online environment in which people communicate and obtain information, news, and entertainment. The media landscape refers to newspapers, books, radio, podcasts, television, social media platforms, and more. The media landscape includes the outlets or vehicles that media organizations (or individual creators) use to distribute their content and messaging.
media manipulation
Media manipulation campaigns refer to media content—often false or malicious—that is distributed to manipulate audiences. These include techniques like clickbait and disinformation posts.
News Over Noise Episode 106 discusses social media content following Politician Nancy Pelosi’s husband being attacked in a home invasion. This is an example of media manipulation campaigns because people tried to spread a false narrative about the event.
media merger
A media merger occurs when multiple communication organizations (at least two or more) merge or are acquired. When multiple companies combine, people foresee concerns about declined localism, diversity, and competition. Media mergers cause decreased competition in the media industry, reducing the company’s concern about competitive pricing in many instances. After a merger, some potential disadvantages include increased price points, a lack of understanding of the customer base, and unemployment.
Mergers can help the company work with economies of scale, allowing them to reduce operating costs and expand into new areas. When mergers transpire, the company acquiring the other business(es) often argues that the financial decision will allow them to better plan and allocate finances to benefit the public good.
Therefore, the companies combine to form a new entity. An example of a media merger is the Comcast-NBC Universal merger, which involved Comcast Corp. and NBC combining to form a new company.
media reforms
Media reforms reference the efforts toward changing mass media systems, often toward meeting public needs rather than corporate biases. In News Over Noise episode 109, Michael Copps urged for media systems to inform rather than entertain. When smaller, localized media companies are consolidated within larger corporations, the companies tend to focus on sensational material that sparks increased viewership and thus, generates revenue. For democracy to flourish, Copps said that media companies need to inform and educate the public about modern issues and news relevant to decision making.
meme
A meme refers to a social phenomenon where videos, graphics or photos represent the thoughts that specific audiences identify with or understand. They are often tailored toward particular groups and elicit humor.
message boards
Message boards are online discussion forums where users can discuss topics of interest. An example of a message board is a blog space where people comment back and forth.
messaging
Messaging refers to the act of distributing and processing information via a communication channel like texting, email, and electronic means.
Millennial
Millennial is a term denoting a portion, or demographic, of the population between Generation X and Generation Z. People generally accept millennials to be born between 1981 and 1996.
Milo Yiannopoulos
Milo Yiannopoulos is an alt-right political commentator who publishes controversial writings and gives speeches about his views on topics like social justice and political correctness.
misinformation
Misinformation involves inaccurate or blatantly false information that when shared, deceives others into improperly understanding a situation or topic.
Misinformation should not be confused with disinformation. Disinformation involves misleading information that was intentionally or deliberately used to deceive others. For instance, government-based propaganda would be an example of disinformation because the entity that created the content desired to mislead recipients of that messaging.
monopoly
A monopoly occurs when a single company holds significant market power within an industry, limiting competitors from entering or succeeding against them. When there is a monopoly, alternative products and companies are unavailable to consumers. This causes purchasers to be forced to pay the prices established by the single company. Without substitutes or alternatives, consumers must accept the quality of content available to them.
Companies can become monopolies by controlling the entire supply chain via vertical integration, which means they control the product’s creation from production to distribution and exhibition. A company can also become a monopoly through horizontal integration, which refers to when a company is the sole competitor in a particular sphere of the industry, which could be at the production, distribution, or exhibition level.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Standard Oil and American Tobacco acted as monopolies in their respective industries. These companies were eventually reorganized due to the 1890 Sherman Antitrust Act, which worked to eliminate monopoly control that dictated market power.
national news
National news refers to coverage that takes a broader perspective focusing on national-level events compared to local-level/community stories. These stories garner widespread interest and pertain to a larger portion of the community. While local news stories may cover issues like the community school board meeting or a high school baseball tournament, national stories typically relate to larger issues like national politics or immigration.
neutrality
Neutrality is the state of not supporting any side, presenting facts without judgement or options.
news avoidance
Selective news avoidance is the practice in which people selectively avoid the news on certain topics. Reasons for avoiding may be a result of feelings exhausted/worn out by the news, a lack of trust in the news, and/or a belief that the news is too negative or overabundant.
For more information, check out News Over Noise Episode 101.
news cycle
The news cycle involves the path a news/media story undergoes from the instance of first coverage until the final reports.
news deserts
News deserts are geographical regions that lack local media coverage and/or market competition between media outlets. Pennsylvania is an example of a news desert. Two Pennsylvania counties do not have a local newspaper, and eighteen counties only have one newspaper. This lack of coverage leaves communities underrepresented in the media and can lead to their exclusion from important social and political conversations.
novelty
In the digital environment, people often desire novelty, which refers to content that is new or unusual in nature. For instance, they may hope for music that holds new sounds or see photos from unseen destinations.
online anonymity
Anonymity refers to the quality or condition of being unidentifiable or anonymous when communicating online. Some users share content or participate in behavior (e.g., trolling) online because they believe no one will be able to figure out their true identity.
online extremism
Extremism typically acts as a political phrase used to describe extreme activity about a particular viewpoint, which often spurs intolerance and the rejection of democratic discussions.
Online extremism occurs when people demonstrate immoderate viewpoints (often obsessively and uncompromising to others’ opinions) in an online format, such as in chat rooms or on social media.
overcorrection
In acknowledging their personal biases that influence their writing and reporting, some journalists change their techniques drastically in an attempt to appear unbiased. However, in trying to adjust their reporting techniques to avoid bias (e.g., reporting on particular sources or using certain wording), the journalist may produce content leaning in the opposite direction. This is called overcorrection, and may also be referred to as overcorrecting biases.
oversight
Following the development of social media and technological platforms, many individuals and organizations advocate for increased oversight for the online platforms to ensure proper community guidelines are being followed.
Oversight refers to the supervision or surveillance of a platform to ensure proper behaviors.
Overton window
The Overton window refers to the social and political issues that the public accepts during a period of time. The Overton window changes throughout time, often depending on the politicians in office and media coverage being completed. For instance, some wedge issues throughout history include women’s suffrage and the abolition of slavery.
parachute journalism
Parachute journalism refers to instances when a journalist travels to a community, reports on a story, and leaves shortly afterward. Often results in stories that lack important community context.
partisan issues
Partisan issues are topics that different political parties (e.g., republican, democrat) hold particular views about. Partisan issues include environmental protection, gun legislation, medical freedoms, and military involvements, among other things.
paywalls
Some news and media organizations implement a paywall on their digital platforms (e.g., websites) restricting users’ access to content unless they pay for a subscription service. Many news organizations — like The New York Times —implemented paywalls into their economic models in the mid-2010s, amidst facing economic challenges with reduced advertising revenues.
Although paywalls help news organizations make money, there are some drawbacks. For instance, paywalls sometimes frustrate readers or diminish news equity as some citizens are unable to access the content. Although many news organizations put breaking news and important updates outside the paywall (e.g., available to readers without payment), some important public service news remains inaccessible to low-income audiences.
Pentagon Papers
The Pentagon Papers, which are officially called the “Report to the office of the Secretary of Defense Vietnam Task Force,” refers to documents recording the United States’ involvement in Vietnam (politically and militantly) between 1945 and 1967.
personal responsibility
Personal responsibility involves being accountable and self-awareness for the decisions and actions being made.
pirate
Pirating involves illegally using, copying or reproducing an individual’s work without their permission. Pirating often infringes on copyright legislation and patents.
pledge drive
Pledge drives refer to a fundraising campaign that seeks donation commitments from citizens and community organizations. Donations can be one-time or scheduled regularly.
polarization
Polarization is the tendency of people to shift toward extreme opinions in a political, religious, or other ideological context. People who only consume national news, which is often highly dramatic, are more likely to form polarized opinions. When polarization seeps into a community, it makes it difficult for people to find common ground and thus, make decisions.
political engagement
Political engagement involves the activities people participate in to express their viewpoints about political matters. Some examples of political engagement include voting and activism.
pro-democracy
Pro-democracy movement employs political activism directed towards values such as the rule of law, human rights, civil liberties, and social justice, though their economic positions vary.
progressive
Progressive describes a political viewpoint that desires improvement to equality, positively advancing human conditions within society. When used as a noun, a progressive is a person who advocates or implements social reform or new liberal ideas. People who agree with progressive ideas tend to support social and economic reform that promotes increased equality.
public airways
Public airways refers to the medium that radio and television signals are exchanged through. For radio and television broadcasters to use public airways, they must apply for a license and follow guidelines established for public use. Once a license is distributed to use the public airways, the company does not own the airways. Rather, the airways are public property just like the highway roads.
public discourse
Public discourse refers to dialogue that transpires in a public forum where people of diverse backgrounds contribute opinions regarding decisions.
public interest
To obtain a broadcasting license and communicate across the airways, broadcast stations must demonstrate that they will work in the "public interest, convenience, and necessity” when filling out their license application every few years. The standard was first developed through the Radio Act of 1927 in relation to the Federal Radio Commission, which preceded the FCC. Upon the FCC’s creation, the standard remained as a test for companies using public airways. Content that meets the public interest requirement often addresses local and newsworthy issues that help people better participate in democratic matters. For instance, a station may air a public service announcement urging people about appropriate steps to take in a heat wave, which would benefit its listeners as a whole. Other content in the public interest could be PBS programming that tells the history of the Civil Rights Movement or another crucial time in history that would not be covered otherwise.
public media
Public media organizations are partially or fully funded by the government. Government influence is limited by allowing an independent regulatory body to disperse funds to the affiliated media outlets. Public media organizations are generally more responsive to their local community because they depend on the public for funding. Some examples of public media include WPSU, WHYY, NPR, and PBS.
public service journalism
Public service, or nonprofit, journalism is produced by organizations that operate for purposes other than generating a profit and have tax-exempt status. Funding sources vary but often include grants and donations. This type of journalism is generally free to the public and geared toward community coverage. Examples of non-profit journalism organizations include Spotlight PA and ProPublica.
radical
When used as a noun, a radical is a person who advocates or implements an extreme form of political or social change.
relevance
Relevance or relevancy refers to how timely, suited and appropriate content is for particular audiences.
reliability
Reliability is a quality of journalism that involves being trustworthy and consistent in the media content’s quality. Reliability helps news organizations form a consistent and loyal audience.
Journalists must determine whether their sources and information are reliable and accurate. However, the editorial team also checks information to ensure accuracy of the coverage.
reporting
Reporting refers to the activity of gathering news (via interviews with sources, observations, and research). Journalists engaging in reporting in order to obtain facts and quotes about timely news.
research
Research involves searching for information from credible sources like websites, news sites, and academic journals to find a better understanding of particular topics. It is a form of investigation into a particular topic.
responsible consumption
Responsible consumption is a concept where people carefully consider their relationship with news and media, ensuring they consider the content being consumed and the impact of that media on one’s mental health.
social media
Social media includes applications like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, among others, that facilitate the sharing of ideas and networking among social circles online.
social media strategist
A social media strategist aids companies, organizations, and individuals to create quality content for their social media platforms. To effectively accomplish this role, they conduct market research, consider the target audience and plan the best ways to maximize engagement.
society
Society refers to the extensive group of individuals cohabiting together. Within a society, social interactions and community sharing occurs between members.
solutions journalism
Solutions journalism or solution-based journalism refers to the reporting approach that extends beyond showcasing issues and problems in society. Rather, it uses evidence to explain what is working and what needs improved and worked upon further. Solutions journalism works to create an effective citizenry by engaging people in finding and initiating solutions to problems within a community. Compared to the regular approach used by most journalists, solutions journalism takes additional time because the reporter takes a deep dive into researching the topic and understanding the information. News organizations and editors need to support the concept of spending a lengthier amount of time working on fewer but more in-depth projects. Before beginning a solutions journalism project, journalists identify a problem that is not being addressed within the community and question how the situation could be improved. Many news organizations lack the resources to dedicate time and materials for long-term solutions journalism projects.
Similar to how other journalists approach their stories, solutions-based journalists establish the problem first. Then, they address the problem and what groups or individuals are successfully addressing the issues. These projects focus on the impact of the problems on people. It gives a clear and defined description of who is responsible and what can be done to address the issues.
Solutions-based journalism projects may focus on social issues like economic mobility and public health. For instance, a journalist may cover how a community garden works to solve local food system issues and how the method could be applied on a larger scale.
sound bite
A sound bite is a short snippet from recorded audio, often from an interview.
source
Sources include the people, organizations, or applications from which journalists gather information for their news project.
A reputable source is one that is credible and believable to gather or learn information from. They are likely backed by evidence, empirical data, and outside research.
stimuli
Stimuli are things or events that sparks a reaction. For examples, unexpected fires (e.g., house fire, car fire) may be stimuli that cause other events/reactions to occur.
story frame
A story frame references how a journalistic narrative is written using a particular perspective, focus, or angle.
A journalist may focus on a particular aspect of an issue when interviewing sources and writing their article. In doing so, they will likely ignore other components about the topic. For instance, rather than covering the broad issue of sex trafficking, a journalist may focus on how that issue impacts their local community or the resources available to survivors. In other words, the story frame is the angle or focus that the journalist takes their article.
streaming
Streaming refers to a method of receiving information, specifically video or audio, through computer technology.
taxonomy
Taxonomy is the act of classification. An example of taxonomy would be classifying smells as good or bad.
telecommunications
Telecommunications refers to the transmission and exchange of information through electronic mediums, typically over lengthier distances. Telecommunication systems refer to mobile networks, TV networks, and the internet, among other media forms.
Telecommunications Act
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was enacted by the United States Congress and expanded media conglomerates’ rights to participate in the cross-ownership of media outlets. The Act raised the limitations on station ownership, allowing for lessened restrictions for media companies.
traditional media outlets
Traditional media outlets consist of established organizations that are well-known and trusted by audiences due to years of operation in the media industry. For instance, traditional media outlets in the broadcasting industry include companies like National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). The New York Times acts as an example of a traditional news outlet.
traditional news consumers
Traditional news consumers are the individuals that typically compose a news organization’s audience.
transparency
Transparency is a principle of journalism where information and reporting methods are visibly shown to audiences. Journalists outright inform audiences about their motivations and methods for collecting information. If something is unknown, a journalist informs the public about the state of information. Overall, transparency is a quality relating to openness of information and accountability.
trends
Trends entail tracking particular continuities, changes, or developments in data, especially for technological or media organizations.
trolling
Trolling refers to the digital action of interacting online (via posting or commenting) with deliberate intentions to upset others or cause negative emotions. Trolling often involves stalking or harassing someone in order to cause harm (e.g., spurring them to take down their account).
Online trolls are people that participate in the act of trolling.
For more information, listen to News Over Noise Episode 106.
Trumpism
Trumpism is a political movement and set of mechanisms for acquiring and keeping control of power associated with Donald Trump and his political base.
truth
A prominent principle of journalism is truth, referring to the veracity or truthfulness of content.
Twitter Files
The Twitter Files involve internal Twitter, Inc. documents that new CEO Elon Musk released publicly, beginning at the end of 2022. The files show internal data about the company and demonstrate previous policies.
Twitter spaces
Twitter spaces refers to a function within the Twitter app that permits chat rooms and collaboration with other participants.
unbiased journalism
Unbiased journalism involves objectively presenting facts within a news report without inserting a journalist’s or organization’s opinions about the issue or event.
vertical integration
Vertical integration refers to one (or a few) company(ies) control of a product or service through multiple stages of the supply chain process. For instance, a company could be horizontally integrated if they have control of the production level as well as the distribution and exhibition levels.
For instance, a vertically integrated automobile company may work at the production level by making car parts for vehicles; however, they may also sell the parts directly to customers. Therefore, that company would be vertically integrated because they participate in multiple levels of the industry process: production (when it is made from raw materials), distribution (when the product makes its way between producers and customers), and exhibition (when it is directly shown to customers).
A media company may desire to be vertically integrated because if they help produce content like a movie, then they would need to rely on other companies to ensure it is distributed and obtained by customers. However, if they are vertically integrated and have a role in the distribution or exhibition process, then they will have a way to ensure their products are being shown appropriately. Therefore, the company may need less reliance on outside companies if they become vertically integrated. It may also lead to lower costs.
vibes
Vibes describe a person's emotional state or the atmosphere of a place as communicated to and felt by others.
watchdog coverage
Watchdog coverage describes a style of journalism that regularly covers the actions of public and private entities in order to hold them accountable for their actions and decision-making. Watchdog coverage helps people become aware of what is going on in their community or nationwide, even if they do not have time to attend public meetings and analyze reports from private entities on their own.
wedge issue
A wedge issue is a controversial political topic that candidates running for public office raise in order to attract or alienate the opponents’ supporters.
Within the podcast, immigration and border security were discussed as a wedge issue by the former President Donald Trump.
white privilege
White privilege is the societal privilege that benefits white people over non-white people in some societies. An example of White privilege would be being able to see one’s culture in school materials or mass media.
wire communication
Wire communication refers to the transmission and reception of information via wire-based communication technology (compared to wireless options). It entails communication that transpires via wire, including cable television, desktop computers, and landline phones.
youth turnout
Youth turnout refers to the number of people in the younger generation (i.e.,18-29 year olds) who participated in an election.