Newspaper Key Topic Terms

Types of Newspapers

Broadsheet: Also known as a quality paper. A newspaper that is large and is associated with serious journalism, in-depth reporting, and a higher reading level.
Tabloid: A smaller size newspaper that focuses mainly on celebrity news, gossip and sensational stories. Often adopts a informal language and style.
Online Newspaper: Digital version of traditional print newspapers. Can update much more frequently than print newspapers and may contain multimedia elements.

Headline: The title of a news story. It is typically in larger font and meant to grab the reader’s attention.
Byline: Information about who wrote a particular article, usually including their name and job title.
Lead: The opening sentence or paragraph of the news story, designed to hook the reader.
Inverted Pyramid: Journalism structure that puts the most important information first, followed by progressively less important details.

Hard News: Serious news of widespread import, such as politics, economics, and important social issues.
Soft News: Lighter news that could be entertainment or lifestyle-related.
Editorial: An article in a newspaper that expresses the editor’s opinion about a particular topic.
Feature Story: An article that explores a topic in-depth, going beyond just the basic facts.
Investigative Journalism: In-depth, detailed reporting to uncover wrongdoing, often involving considerable research.
News Values: Criteria that journalists use to determine which events are newsworthy and should be covered.

Demographics: Characteristics of readers, such as age, gender, income, and education level.
Target Audience: The group of people that the newspaper is primarily aimed at.
Gatekeeping: The process by which decisions are made about what stories will be covered, and how they are covered.
Bias: When a newspaper presents a particular viewpoint or perspective, rather than balanced coverage.
Representations: How certain events, individuals, or groups are portrayed in the media. This can be influenced by societal values, cultural contexts, or personal biases.

Print Circulation: The number of copies of a newspaper that are printed and distributed.
Advertisers: Companies that pay newspapers to display ads, influencing the funding and content of newspapers.
Media Ownership: Control of a newspaper or media outlet by a particular corporation or individual. Can influence the content and editorial stance.
Digital First Strategy: A strategy where priority is given to digital content over print. Involves valuing digital platforms like the newspaper’s website or app over traditional print circulation.