UK Journalism Glossary

Showing 80 of 80 terms

ABC

The Audit Bureau of Circulations, the UK body that independently verifies newspaper and magazine circulation figures. Publishers use ABC-certified numbers to set advertising rates and demonstrate reach.

Advertorial

Paid content designed to look like editorial. UK press codes require advertorials to be clearly labelled so readers can distinguish them from independent journalism.

Angle

The particular focus or perspective chosen for a story. A good angle gives a fresh take on events and determines which facts lead the piece.

Attribution

Identifying the source of information or a quote within a story. UK newsrooms follow strict attribution conventions, distinguishing between named sources, anonymous sources, and off-the-record briefings.

Background

Information given to a journalist for context but not intended for direct quotation. In UK political reporting, "on background" means the information can be used but the source must not be identified.

Beat

A specific subject area or geographical patch a reporter covers regularly, such as crime, health, or local government. Beat reporters build specialist contacts and deep knowledge over time.

Broadsheet

A large-format newspaper traditionally associated with serious, in-depth journalism. In the UK, The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times still print in broadsheet format, though several former broadsheets have moved to compact or Berliner sizes.

Byline

The journalist's name printed alongside their story. In UK papers, bylines may include the reporter's title or specialism, and shared bylines indicate collaborative reporting.

Caption

The text accompanying a photograph or illustration. UK style typically places captions below images and includes the name of the photographer or picture agency.

Churnalism

Pejorative term for journalism that relies heavily on recycling press releases or wire copy without original reporting. The term was popularised by BBC journalist Waseem Zakir and explored in Nick Davies' book Flat Earth News.

Circulation

The number of copies of a publication distributed, whether sold, subscription, or free. In the UK, circulation figures are independently audited by ABC and remain a key industry metric despite the shift to digital.

Colour piece

A descriptive, atmospheric article that conveys the mood or feel of an event or place. Colour pieces rely on vivid detail and observation rather than hard news.

Copy

The written text of a news story or article. Journalists "file copy" to their newsdesk, and sub-editors process the copy before publication.

Correspondent

A journalist assigned to a specific subject area or location. UK outlets employ specialist correspondents (political, diplomatic, defence) and foreign correspondents based overseas.

Crosshead

A small sub-heading inserted into the body of a story to break up long blocks of text. UK newspapers use crossheads extensively to improve readability, especially in tabloid layouts.

Cuttings

A collection of published articles, traditionally clipped from newspapers. UK journalists maintain cuttings files (now mostly digital) as a portfolio of their work and for background research.

D-notice

A formal request from the UK government's Defence and Security Media Advisory Committee asking editors not to publish specific information on national security grounds. D-notices are voluntary and not legally binding.

Dateline

The line at the beginning of a story indicating where and when it was filed. UK convention places the dateline in capitals before the first paragraph of a report filed from outside the newsroom's home city.

Deadline

The latest time by which copy must be submitted for publication. In UK print newsrooms, deadlines are determined by press times and edition schedules; digital deadlines are effectively continuous.

Death knock

The practice of visiting the home of a recently deceased person to seek comment or photographs from relatives. It is one of the most difficult tasks in UK journalism, governed by Clause 4 (Intrusion into grief) of the IPSO Editors' Code.

Deck

A line of a headline. Multi-deck headlines use several lines of decreasing size. In UK tabloids, a story might carry a three-deck headline for maximum impact.

Diary

In UK newsrooms, the diary is the schedule of known upcoming events (court cases, press conferences, parliamentary business) that may generate stories. Diary reporters cover pre-planned events.

Doorstep

Approaching someone for comment without prior arrangement, typically at their home or office. Doorstepping is a contentious practice in UK journalism, regulated by the IPSO Editors' Code, and usually reserved for stories of significant public interest.

Editorial

An opinion article written on behalf of the newspaper rather than an individual journalist. UK newspapers traditionally run editorials (also called "leaders") expressing the publication's institutional view on issues of the day.

Embargo

A restriction placed on information, stipulating it must not be published before a specified date and time. UK government departments, universities, and PR agencies regularly issue embargoed press releases.

Exclusive

A story obtained and published by one outlet before any competitor. UK tabloids often label exclusives prominently on the front page to signal original reporting and attract readers.

Feature

A longer, more in-depth article that goes beyond straightforward news reporting. Features may include profiles, investigations, background analysis, or human interest stories and are a staple of UK weekend supplements.

Filler

A short, usually light item used to fill remaining space on a page. UK newspapers keep a stock of timeless fillers (odd facts, quirky stories) ready for layout needs.

Fleet Street

Historically the centre of British national newspaper publishing in London. Although most papers left Fleet Street by the late 1980s, the name remains synonymous with the UK national press.

FOI

Freedom of Information — the legal right to request information from public bodies under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) or the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. FOI requests are a vital tool for UK investigative journalists.

Freelance

A self-employed journalist who sells work to multiple outlets rather than being on staff. UK freelancers may join the NUJ and should register as self-employed with HMRC for tax purposes.

Hack

Informal slang for a journalist, used affectionately within the profession. In UK newsrooms, calling someone "a good hack" is a compliment meaning a reliable, resourceful reporter.

Headline

The title of a story, designed to grab attention and summarise the content. In UK newspapers, headlines are usually written by sub-editors rather than the reporter who wrote the story.

Hold the front page

An instruction to delay printing because a major breaking story has come in. Though largely a cliché now, the phrase captures the urgency of UK print journalism when a late-breaking exclusive demands the splash be changed.

House style

The set of spelling, grammar, and formatting rules specific to a publication. Major UK outlets like The Guardian, The Times, and the BBC each publish their own style guides.

IMPRESS

The only press regulator in the UK recognised under the Royal Charter on self-regulation of the press. IMPRESS regulates a smaller number of publishers than IPSO and offers an arbitration scheme for the public.

Intro

The opening paragraph of a news story, known as the "lede" in American journalism. A UK news intro typically delivers the key facts in a single, punchy sentence of around 25 words.

Inverted pyramid

The traditional news-writing structure that places the most important information first and the least important last. It remains the standard approach taught in UK journalism training.

IPSO

The Independent Press Standards Organisation, the largest press regulator in the UK. IPSO handles complaints against member publications and enforces the Editors' Code of Practice.

Kill fee

A reduced payment made to a freelance journalist when a commissioned piece is accepted but ultimately not published. UK kill fees are typically 25–50% of the agreed rate and should be negotiated before starting work.

Lead

The main story in a newspaper or bulletin, or the opening paragraph of a story. In UK print, "the lead" usually refers to the most prominent story on a page.

Legals

Short for "legal read" — the process of having a story checked by a media lawyer before publication to assess risks of libel, contempt, or privacy breach. UK newsrooms with dedicated legal teams run legals on sensitive investigations.

Libel

A published false statement that damages someone's reputation. UK libel law places the burden of proof on the defendant (the publisher), making it among the strictest in the world. The Defamation Act 2013 introduced a "serious harm" threshold.

Lineage

Payment to freelance journalists calculated per line of published text. Lineage rates vary between UK publications and are less common now than flat fees or day rates.

Lobby

The group of accredited political journalists who cover the UK Parliament. Lobby correspondents attend private briefings from government spokespeople under established attribution rules.

Masthead

The newspaper's title and logo as displayed on the front page. The masthead is a key part of a UK paper's brand identity and rarely changes.

Morgue

The newsroom library or archive where past cuttings, photographs, and reference material are stored. In the UK, the term dates from Fleet Street's heyday; most morgues are now digital databases.

Nib

A news in brief — a very short story of just two or three paragraphs. UK newspapers run nibs in columns to cover minor stories that don't warrant a full report.

NUJ

The National Union of Journalists, the trade union and professional body for journalists in the UK and Ireland. The NUJ negotiates pay, defends press freedom, and publishes its own Code of Conduct.

Off the record

Information given on the strict condition that it will not be published in any form. In UK journalism, true off-the-record conversations are meant to guide the reporter's understanding without appearing in print.

On background

Information that may be used in a story but the source must not be directly identified. UK political journalists often receive briefings "on background" and attribute them to phrases like "a senior government source".

On the record

Information given openly and attributable by name. On-the-record quotes carry the most weight in UK reporting because readers can assess the source's credibility.

Op-ed

An opinion piece published opposite the editorial page, typically written by an outside contributor or named columnist. UK broadsheets commission op-eds from politicians, academics, and public figures.

Peg

The news event or topical hook that justifies publishing a story at a particular time. UK editors ask "what's the peg?" to determine why a feature is timely and relevant now.

Picture desk

The newsroom department responsible for sourcing, commissioning, and selecting photographs. In UK newspapers, the picture desk works closely with reporters and page designers to ensure strong visual storytelling.

Pool

An arrangement where a limited number of journalists represent the wider media at restricted events. Pool reporters share their material with all outlets. UK pool arrangements are common at royal events and court proceedings.

Press card

An identity card issued to working journalists, most commonly the UK Press Card issued by the UK Press Card Authority, backed by major media employers and the NUJ. It is the only card formally recognised by UK police and public authorities.

Press release

A written statement issued by an organisation to the media to announce news. UK journalists receive hundreds of press releases daily and must evaluate them critically rather than publish them unchecked.

Proof

A pre-publication version of a page or story checked for errors. In UK print journalism, proofreaders and sub-editors review proofs before pages are sent to press.

Pull quote

A highlighted excerpt from a story displayed in larger text to draw the reader's eye. UK newspaper and magazine designers use pull quotes to break up text and emphasise key points.

Redtop

A British tabloid newspaper with a red masthead, such as The Sun, the Daily Mirror, or the Daily Star. Redtops are associated with populist, entertainment-heavy coverage and bold headlines.

Reporter

A journalist who gathers information and writes news stories. In UK newsrooms, reporters may be general news reporters or specialists covering specific beats like crime, health, or education.

Rewrite

To substantially revise a story, or a journalist who rewrites copy filed by others. In UK newsrooms, a rewrite person may take facts phoned in by reporters in the field and craft them into polished copy.

Running story

A story that develops over hours, days, or weeks, requiring ongoing coverage and updates. UK newsrooms assign dedicated reporters to running stories and update online editions continuously.

Scoop

An exclusive story of major significance obtained ahead of all competitors. Landing a scoop is one of the highest achievements in UK journalism, recognised annually at awards such as the British Journalism Awards.

Sidebar

A supplementary story or information box that accompanies the main article. UK newspapers use sidebars for background explainers, key facts, or related human-interest angles.

Slug

A short identifying label given to a story as it moves through the editorial process. UK newsrooms assign slugs early so that editors, sub-editors, and production staff can track the piece.

Source

A person, document, or record that provides information for a story. UK journalists are expected to protect confidential sources, a principle supported by the NUJ Code of Conduct and the Contempt of Court Act 1981, Section 10.

Spike

To reject or kill a story, preventing its publication. The term comes from the metal spike on old Fleet Street newsdesks where discarded copy was impaled.

Splash

The main front-page story in a newspaper. In UK tabloids, the splash is usually accompanied by a large photograph and a bold, punchy headline designed to sell copies at the newsstand.

Standfirst

A short introductory paragraph between the headline and the body text, summarising the story or setting the scene. Standfirsts are widely used in UK broadsheets and magazines.

Strapline

A secondary headline that sits above or below the main headline, providing additional context. UK newspapers use straplines to add detail or a different angle to the splash headline.

Stringer

A freelance journalist who regularly contributes to a particular outlet, often from a specific location. UK national papers use stringers in regional cities and abroad to extend their reporting reach.

Sub-editor

A journalist who checks, edits, and prepares copy for publication, including writing headlines, captions, and standfirsts. Sub-editors (or "subs") are a cornerstone of UK newsroom quality control, though many roles have been cut in recent years.

Syndication

The sale or licensing of content to other publications. UK syndication agencies distribute stories, photographs, and features to outlets worldwide, providing an additional revenue stream for publishers and freelancers.

Tabloid

A compact-format newspaper, traditionally associated with popular, accessible journalism. In the UK, tabloids include both redtops (The Sun, Daily Mirror) and middle-market papers (Daily Mail, Daily Express).

Tip-off

Information received from a source alerting a journalist to a potential story. UK newsrooms encourage tip-offs via dedicated phone lines, email addresses, and secure drop systems like SecureDrop.

Vox pop

Short interviews with members of the public to gauge opinion on a topical issue. The term comes from the Latin vox populi ("voice of the people") and is a staple of UK broadcast and newspaper journalism.

Wire service

A news agency that distributes stories, photographs, and video to subscribing media outlets. The UK's domestic wire service is PA Media (formerly the Press Association), while international wires include Reuters, AP, and AFP.

Wob

White on black — reversed-out text (white letters on a dark background) used in UK newspaper headlines and pull quotes for visual emphasis.