bias
Bias or biases involve pre-established viewpoints individuals have about certain topics, people or causes, which can influence their behaviors and reporting practices.
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.
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.
neutrality
Neutrality is the state of not supporting any side, presenting facts without judgement or options.
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.
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.
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.
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.