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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.