Glossary A–Z.

A

Anonymous sourceA source whose name is withheld, usually because they could be harmed. Responsible newsrooms use them sparingly and explain why.AttributionSaying where a piece of information comes from — “according to the RBI”, “the police said” — so readers can judge it.

B

Breaking newsNews of an event that is happening now or has just happened, reported as details come in.BylineThe line on a story that names who wrote it. Ours link to a profile page, and our correspondents’ press cards can be checked on our verification page.

C

ClickbaitHeadlines or images designed to make people click rather than to inform them, often by exaggerating or holding back the point of the story.CorrectionA published notice that fixes a factual error in a story, saying what was wrong and what is right.

D

DatelineThe place a story was reported from, shown at its start — for example “Jerusalem” or “Mumbai”.DeepfakeVideo, audio or images generated or altered with artificial intelligence to make a real person appear to say or do something they did not.DisinformationFalse information created or spread deliberately to deceive, often for political or financial gain.

E

Echo chamberAn environment, often online, where people mostly see opinions that match their own, which reinforces them.EditorialAn article giving the publication’s own opinion, usually unsigned. It is kept separate from news reporting.EmbargoA request from a source that information is not published before a stated date and time. Reports, results and speeches are often shared with journalists in advance under…

F

Fact-checkA check of a public claim against the evidence, ending with a clear verdict. Our method is set out on our fact-check methodology page.

H

HeadlineThe title of a story. A good one is accurate and is supported by the story beneath it.

L

Lateral readingChecking a claim or website by opening other sources about it, instead of judging it only by how it looks.LedeThe opening sentence or paragraph of a news story, which gives the most important facts.

M

MisinformationFalse or misleading information that is shared without an intention to deceive — for example, a mistaken rumour passed on in good faith.

N

News agencyAn organisation that gathers news and supplies it to other media, such as PTI, Reuters, the Associated Press and AFP.

O

Off the recordAn agreement that information given to a journalist will not be published or attributed. Journalists and sources should agree exactly what the term means before the…Op-edAn opinion article by a named writer who is not one of the publication’s editors — originally the page “opposite the editorial” page.OSINTOpen-source intelligence: facts gathered from publicly available material, such as satellite images, videos and public records.

P

PaywallA system that limits access to some or all of a publication’s journalism to paying subscribers.Press freedomThe freedom of journalists to report and publish without censorship or fear. In India it is protected as part of the freedom of speech in Article 19 of the Constitution.Press releaseAn official statement issued to the media by a government, company or organisation. Our official-releases section reproduces some, with credit, where the publisher…Primary sourceOriginal evidence: a document, data, a recording or a first-hand witness, as opposed to someone else’s account of it.

R

Readers’ editorAn editor who handles readers’ complaints independently and can publish findings about the newsroom’s own mistakes.RetractionThe withdrawal of a whole story because it was fundamentally wrong or could not be stood behind.Reverse image searchSearching the web with a picture instead of words, to find where else it appeared and when — a basic way to check whether a photo is old or out of context.Right of replyThe principle that people criticised in a story should be given a fair chance to respond.

S

SatireHumour that exaggerates to make a point. Satire shared out of context is a common source of misinformation.Sponsored contentMaterial paid for by an advertiser. It should be clearly labelled so that readers do not mistake it for independent journalism.