Vocabulary News Gathering

1. advance A story that deals with a happening that will occur at a later date. Here, sources will provide information on a later event. This is also known as a preview story.

2. attribution The identification of the source providing information in a story. Usually, it is the name of the person quoted, but it is also acknowledgment of researched information or data.

3. background Information provided by an unnamed source. A common term for this is “not for attribution.” Also known as on background.

4. closed-ended question This is a question that elicits a yes or no response or a one word response. Good for poll questions; for quotes, it is best to either avoid this question type or have a follow-up question to go with it.

5. computer-assisted reporting The use of computers to gather information and data. Here, journalists use databases to receive and analyze information and statistical data to help develop background on a story. The use of s to interview is another example of this.

6. confidential source Also known as an unnamed source, it is a source used in a story only if there is overwhelming concern, if there is no other way to get the information, if the information is verifiable, first- hand knowledge, and if the reporter can reveal why it cannot name the source along with promises made to the source.

7. confirmation Information that is supported by evidence. With news information, reporters will wait for first-hand acknowledgement of information that might be received first by second-hand sources. Here, information is verified, fact- checked.

8. conflict This news value deals with the inclusion of two or more forces going at each other.

9. consequence This news value deals with the importance of a story.

10. crowdsourcing This is the use of a group of people to gain information, usually through the Internet. Social media is a platform for this.

11. currency This news value deals with stories that are of high interest to the public; usually, these stories are based on topical, current events.

12. data Information or factual information used in a story. Often, these are presented as numerical types of information gathered through database research.

13. database Organized information found on the computer. There are several databases dedicated to journalistic research. Investigative Reporters and Editors ( is one such example.

14. direct quote The exact words provided by a source, usually gained through an interview.

15. documents Type of source used to provide information for a story. Examples include public records, related articles and letters.

16. expert A source that serves as highly knowledgeable about a story topic.

17. 5W and 1H This serves as the building blocks for developing interview questions (who, what, when, where, why, and how).

18. fact checking This is a process of checking facts and quotes for accuracy and verification. News agencies may have a person designated to perform fact checking duties. The movie Shattered Glass is a great resource on the importance of this to journalism.

19. follow-up questions A question used to further develop a response to a recent question during an interview; it also serves as a set of questions asked at a later time after an initial interview.

20. formal interview This is a well-planned interview, usually a sit- down between interviewer and interviewee; usually, the interview is conducted within the environment of the interviewee. One of the most famous was between David Frost and Richard Nixon.

21. gotcha A news gathering technique used to get sources to provide information that is damaging or will discredit them.

22. human interest This news value deals with the emotional qualities of a story. Does the story evoke an emotional response?

23. informed consent At times, permission is needed to conduct an interview; also, some will grant an interview but only under certain conditions and prearrangements. One example might be that a source needs to know the questions in advance.

24. indirect quote Information provided by a source that is paraphrased by the writer and used without quotation marks.

25. investigative reporting This is an in-depth exploration of a specific topic, usually involving intensive background research, use of sources with first-hand connections to the topic, and extensive fact checking. Probably the most famous example of this is the Woodward-Bernstein coverage of Watergate.

26. news judgment Also known as news value, this is the process journalists use to determine what is newsworthy based on the following factors: novelty (oddity, rarity), timeliness, proximity, prominence, conflict, consequence (impact), currency and human interest.

27. novelty Also known as oddity or rarity, this news value focuses on a story that is unusual and highly interesting.

28. observation When gathering news, observation is essential when reporters have the opportunity to witness an event and take notes. Also, when interviewing, reporters should observe the demeanor of the subject and its environment.

29. off the record Information is given with the expectation that the information will not be printed. Consider this an unwritten confidentiality agreement between reporter and source.

30. on deep background Information is given by a source, but no attribution is given. While on background information allows reporter to attribute the source’s position in general terms, on deep background does not.

31. on the record Information provided by a source may be used with full attribution.

32. open-ended question Questions used in an interview that elicit a response from the source beyond the yes or no or one word response. Sources responds in their own words, providing complete thought.

33. open records laws These are laws that allow reporters to access official government records at the local or federal levels. It should be noted that laws vary by location and not all records are accessible.

34. open source reporting Sharing of information by reporters while working on a story. Here, emphasis is on collaboration.

35. panel discussion A group of people connected to a topic come together to present and answer questions from a panel audience. This is an excellent method of gathering information for special issue coverage.

36. person on the street Interview technique where a reporter gets information from previously unknown sources. Usually, these are very brief interviews that gain reaction to a story topic or event. Broadcast news use this technique often in their reporting.

37. poll A survey of a sample population to acquire information that shows trends, provides statistical data, and evaluates public opinion.

38. press conference Also known as a news conference, this format involves a prominent individual that is interviewed by a group of reporters simultaneously.

39. primary source This is considered original material in regard to research. With interviewing, this is also known as first-hand source, a source with direct experience of a story topic or event.

40. probe This simply means to fully investigate a story. Another term for this is dig. Thoroughness is a must for efficient news gathering. One technique that emphasizes probing is the use of follow up questions.

41. prominence This news value relates to a story that includes high profile individuals. Celebrities, athletes, or politicians are examples.

42. proximity This news value takes into consideration the location in which a news story occurs in relation to its audience.

43. public records Documents that are available for public use. This tends to refer to official documents that are accessible to the public, lacking any confidential agreement.

44. Q-and-A This interviewing format is a recorded question and answer session in which each question and answer is presented to the reader by the reporter. The interview is conducted conversationally.

45. quotation Direct expression of a source. Directly, it is the word for word response by a source that requires quotation marks within a story; indirectly, it is a paraphrasing of comments or provided information.

46. reaction With news gathering, this is a comment made by a source when asked to respond to a happening or a comment made by another source or story subject. This should be considered as a type of question development.

47. read back This is a method of information verification. Interviewers might use this technique during the interview by reading back the comments made by the interviewee. It also could be used as a fact checking strategy during the transcription of notes or before publishing a story.

48. research In regard to reporting, research is conducted to develop story background, to locate sources, and to gain knowledge of their sources. Observation, database use, and the use of polls and surveys are tools reporters may use to perform research on a story.

49. rephrase This is a method of clarification. A source might provide essential information that is jumbled or unorganized; interviewers could redirect the question to get a more clearer response. This emphasizes the need for listening skills in the interviewing process.

50. secondary source This is information that is in response to first- hand experiences. In the case of sources, the information provided has been passed down to the source. Secondary source information, if valid, derives from primary sources.

51. softball questions This is an interview technique where the reporter might begin an interview with easy questions to get the source comfortable. In the case of a story that might involve tough, probing questions, this technique establishes a conversational tone, thus creating a positive reporter-source relationship.

52. soundbite More often used in video broadcasts, this a short clip from a longer piece of dialogue. While shortened, it is meant to capture the wholeness of a message.

53. sunshine laws Regulations requiring openness in government. Sunshine laws make meetings, records, votes, deliberations and other official actions available for public observation, participation and/or inspection. Sunshine laws also require government meetings to be held with sufficient advance notice and at times and places that are convenient and accessible to the public, with exceptions for emergency meetings.

54. survey This is a gathering of information based on a sample population, usually open-ended in the type of responses.

55. timeliness This news value relates to the when of a story. Especially with hard news, this value encourages timely coverage of an event. Think of the phrase, “here today, gone tomorrow” when considering this news value.

56. transcript This is a written account of a spoken event such as a speech, a press conference, or an interview. A printed Q-and-A would serve as an example of this.

57. two-part question Here, the reporter will ask two questions at once to help elicit a response. Here is an example. “Where were you when you first heard of the assassination of JFK and how did you react to the news?”

58. undercover reporting A reporter becomes part of a group, experiencing it from the inside in order to provide a first-hand account. Often, the reporting focuses on social issues and conditions that do not provide normal access for story coverage. An element of deception is used to report stories in this manner.

59. verification This is the act of proving the accuracy of gathered information. Fact checking is one example of how verification occurs.

60. who cares method This is the question that journalists pose to themselves when considering story coverage. Here, the use of news judgment (news values) is used to determine if potential audience interest exists.