by Kevin Burton
Every industry has its insider jargon and our friends at Dictionary Scoop have released a list of journalism phrases.
And I’ll get to it, gladly. But first, one bone to pick.
So the way I was trained in journalism was, get to the point, now. Put the most important information in the first paragraph. Otherwise you risk losing the reader.
And that first paragraph, to insiders, is called the “lead.”
“Burying the lead” is a phrase meaning to put the good stuff lower in the story. Burying the lead is a bad thing. I rarely did it. My better editors helped me not to do it.
So some people in journalism spell the word for that first paragraph “lede,” as in, “don’t bury the lede.”
I’m not doing that. How stupid is that?
Anybody outside journalism, and many inside journalism, stumbling upon that word will say, “what is that, ‘led-dy,’ ‘le-day?’ What is that?
Another point. If I’m in the newsroom and asking what element of a story should come first – some stories are that complicated – can I use that “lede” word as a verb?
“What should I lede with?
Bollocks. I strike a blow here for clarity. Let’s just trash “lede.”
See also, “whom.” Get that junk word out of my dictionary, out of my life, forever.
Better get to the list now ‘cause I’m starting to get a little worked up. Look, I was a teenage curmudgeon. I am practiced in the art. Don’t get me started.
OK then, journalism phrases from Dictionary Scoop, plus my two cents worth:
1–Off-the-Record
“Off-the-record” is a term every journalist knows well. It refers to when someone shares information with the understanding that it won’t be published. This material can’t be directly quoted or attributed to the source, but it might guide a reporter’s research or provide background for future stories.
It’s a way for sources to speak freely without the fear of being publicly exposed. The trust between a source and a reporter is crucial here; break it, and you might not get another scoop.
(KB says: Not might not, will not get another scoop. Be good to your sources.)
2–Cutline
A “cutline” is the descriptive text that you’ll find under a photo in a newspaper or magazine. It provides the context that tells you who’s in the picture, what’s happening, and why it’s important.
Without a cutline, a photo might be interesting to look at but leave you scratching your head about the details. Think of it as a photo’s partner in storytelling, giving the image a voice. Next time you glance at a photo, don’t skip the cutline; it’s there to make sure you get the full picture.
(KB says: A cutline is a caption, pure and simple. Not sure why we needed cutline as a word.)
3–Stringer
A “stringer” is a freelance journalist who contributes stories to a newspaper or news outlet but isn’t on the full-time staff. They’re paid per story or by the word, making them the gig workers of the journalism world.
Stringers often cover specific areas or beats that the regular staff might not have time for, bringing in fresh perspectives and local stories. It’s a flexible role, perfect for journalists who want to write without the commitment of a full-time job.
(KB says: That’s the sort of gig I might be looking for later this year.)
4–Tip
Not to be mistaken for a suggestion or advice, a “tip” is the inside scoop—a piece of information passed to a reporter, often in confidence. Tips can come from almost anyone: a source close to a situation, an anonymous whistleblower, or even a concerned citizen. They’re the breadcrumbs that lead journalists to uncover bigger stories.
A good tip can be the spark that ignites a major investigation or an exclusive piece. But tips need to be handled with care; every journalist should verify the details before running with the story, because not every tip pans out.
(KB says: Yes, often times a tip is someone’s personal vendetta.)
5–Bulldog
If you’re thinking of the dog, think again! The “bulldog” edition is the first version of a newspaper printed for the day, often hitting the stands early in the morning. It’s like the early bird of the newspaper world.
The bulldog might not have all the late-breaking stories, but it’s the first to deliver the day’s news to the public. Back in the day, grabbing a Bulldog edition meant you were among the first to know what was happening. Even though it’s an old-school term, it’s still a symbol of the urgency in news reporting.
(KB says: I never worked for a paper big enough to have a bulldog edition. Bulldog, to me, was a way of classifying reporters. You had your hard-hitting, intrepid, investigating reporters, the bulldogs, and then you had your lapdogs.)
Tomorrow, more ink-stained phrases from the world of journalism.
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