CG: Character generator. Designate what it’s to look like by using separate lines and uppercase and lowercase to correspond to use on air. Sometimes abbreviated CH, CI or CY (after Chyron, the company that once dominated the field).

CU: Close-up, standard bust shot for a single anchor.

Gfx: Graphics. Note what it is.

IN: In cue of SOT in VO/SOT.

MATTE: To indicate more than one live video source on the screen at the same time.

OUT: Out cue of SOT in VO/SOT.

PKG: Reporter package that ends with standard signature (sig) close unless otherwise noted (e.g., Jane Smith, XXXX-TV, Cityville). Sometimes abbreviated PK.

SOT: Full screen sound on tape.

SS: Still store (electronic). Sometimes designated as BSS (box still store) or FSS (full [screen] still store). Make clear what it’s to be.

3-shot: Three-shot on camera. Since most stations have more than three anchors, designate which three. Also note the order—for example, Jean/Jan/George where Jean and Jan are the usual co-anchors and George either is normally on the right doing, for example, sports, or is a reporter who is to be sitting on the right.

2-shot: Two-shot on camera. Because most stations have more than two anchors, designate which two (although it may be understood that it means the two news anchors unless otherwise noted).

VO: Voiceover; presumes natural sound under unless designated as silent (VO/sil).

actuality: The “actual” sound of someone in the news on audio tape. This applies only to a news maker, not a reporter. Bite is the television equivalent.

affiliates: Stations with an agreement with one of the networks in which the stations have first call on programs carried by the network. Depending on the size of the market, TV affiliates are paid by the network to run the commercials within the programs (how much they’re paid depends on how much audience they produce for the network). In radio, larger stations are paid, but smaller stations are not—depending on the size of the audience the station delivers.

anchor: The talent on the set who delivers the news. Also used to refer to on-the-set talent who present sports and weather.

assignment desk, editor: Common in TV, rare in radio except the largest stations, this is the nerve center of the newsroom. Assignment editors, working at the assignment desk, schedule stories for reporters to cover and photographers to shoot. The desk may also perform research for reporters and other newspeople.

ax: Common abbreviation for accident.

B-roll: An old film term: Pictures shot to accompany reporter or anchor script. See the second definition of cover shot.

background/bg: Usually in TV, the natural sound on video that is run at lower volume, under the voice of a reporter or anchor. Same as wild sound under or natural sound under.

backtiming: Timing a story or, more commonly, a newscast from the back forward to help ensure that the newscast ends on time.

beat: An area of coverage that a reporter deals with on an ongoing basis, e.g., health, consumer, police.

bg: See background/bg.

billboard: Used variously, but most commonly as an announcement on the air—sometimes by a commercial announcer, sometimes by a newscaster—that a particular advertiser is sponsoring a news program or segment.

bite: The selected section of sound on tape (SOT) of a news maker or news event on TV to be run at full volume as SOT (see SOT). The TV equivalent of a radio actuality.

blog: Short for web log. Individual or group commentary or observations online.

bridge: Used variously but usually refers to an internal stand-up (see stand-up) within a reporter package (see package).

BSS: Box still store. See SS.

character generator: Electronic equipment that produces supers (titles) used to identify people, places and things on TV. Abbreviated CG: (sometimes CH: or CI: or CY:—short for common brand name of Chyron) on script paper.

chromakey: The electronic merging of two video sources. Often the generation of pictures behind news, sports and weather anchors.

close-up/CU: A picture in which the subject is framed fairly tightly on the screen, generally no wider than head and shoulders.

cold open: Starting a TV newscast with video or a bite from the lead story rather than starting with the anchor or the standard show open.

copy: Scripts written for a newscast.

cover shot: (1) A scene of video used to cover or bridge what would otherwise be a jump cut (see jump cut) or simply to bridge scenes for time transitions; (2) in some shops, cover shots or cover video refers to video that accompanies narration. Also called B-chain or B-roll.

crawl: Text running across (usually) the bottom of the screen.

crowdsourcing: In media, generally asking people in the audience (online or mobile devices) to determine or verify information.

CU: See close-up.

cut: A direct, abrupt change from one video scene to another. The most common form of editing in TV news.

cutaway: Same as first definition of cover shot.

dayside: Refers to the newsroom staff who work generally between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., culminating in the early evening news. See nightside.

dissolve: A video cross-fade in which one image is slowly (typically one-half to three seconds) replaced with another image. This softer form of editing (than cuts) is used most often in features to denote scene changes or passing of time.

domain: The end of the basic web address—after the period but before any slashes.

drive times: The time periods when radio station audiences are generally highest—because so many people are in cars. Morning drive usually runs from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays (peak radio listening overall). Afternoon drive usually runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays.

dub: As a noun, a copy of audio or video material. As a verb, the act of copying audio or video material.

ENG: Electronic news gathering. The term applies to videotape or digital video (rather than film) material from the field.

ESS: Electronic still store. See SS.

establishing shot: Typically, the first shot in a video story, which shows the general context of the location rather than a tighter shot of some of the details.

evergreen: A story, typically a feature, that can be held for later airing because it’s not timely.

feed: Video or audio from an outside source, e.g., a network or from a station’s live truck.

Flash: Animation program for web pages from Adobe.

font: Set of typeface styles in a character generator. See character generator.

FSS: Full (screen) still store. See SS.

future file: Filing system (physical file or on computer) to keep track of events coming up in the future, usually involving days of the month and months of the year. Sometimes called futures file.

gfx: Common abbreviation for graphics.

gif: Graphics Interchange Format … mostly used for illustrations and graphics on the web.

handout: A press release given or sent to the news media.

heavy: In a newscast, means that the show is running long and something will have to be cut back or eliminated. See light.

html: Hypertext markup language for coding instructions on the web.

hyperlocal: News about a much smaller community than we commonly see covered, most often a geographic area.

ifb: Interrupt feed or fold back. Usually refers to both the anchor’s and reporter’s earpieces and the audio that goes through it on live shots. Designed for the reporter to hear the station audio without his or her own voice and enables the producer or director to talk directly to the anchor or reporter to provide cues or information.

IN: Script notation to mark in cue of SOT in VO/SOT. See also OUT.

interactivity: Generally, the ability of the audience to respond and participate in an activity, either online or through television.

jpeg: Joint Photographic Experts Group … compression for good quality photos at relatively fast download speeds on the web.

jump cut: An unnatural movement between edits caused by the internal editing of material such that two similar but not identical or flowing video shots are placed next to each other. The result is a discernable jump in the picture.

kicker: An unusual, light or humorous story—usually short—run at the end of a newscast.

lav: Short for lavaliere—a small mic that clips on to clothing.

light: In a newscast, means that the show is running short and something will have to be expanded or added. See heavy.

livechat: In media, generally software that allows a live connection between an audience and a live person

localizing: Finding a local news aspect to a story that is not otherwise directly related to your community.

long shot/LS: Similar to an establishing shot, this is a picture showing a wide view of the story the camera is capturing. Same as wide shot/WS.

MATTE: Split screen. Term indicating more than one live video source on the screen at the same time.

medium shot/MS: Between a close-up and a long shot, the medium shot shows some detail of the picture without getting too close.

message board: A web page where comments can be posted.

mix minus: An engineering term referring to the elimination of the reporter’s or anchor’s audio through an ifb—thus preventing feedback or disconcerting delayed audio.

MP3: Motion Picture Experts Group, Audio Layer 3 … an audio compression format used for downloading.

MPEG: Motion Picture Experts Group … a system for digitizing and compressing video for downloading. Pronounced m-peg.

multimedia: Online, generally refers to the mixed use of text, audio, video, graphics, animation, and so on.

natural sound: The actual sound of whatever is being recorded (audio or video), generally intended to be run under a reporter’s or anchor’s voice. Same as wild, ambient or background sound.

nightside: Refers to the newsroom staff who work generally between 2 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., culminating in the late evening news. See dayside.

O & O: Abbreviation for owned and operated—in reference to stations that are actually owned and run by the networks, rather than just affiliated with the networks.

OUT: Script notation to mark out cue of SOT in VO/SOT. See also IN.

outtakes: Audio or video material recorded for a story but not used on the air.

package: A report, usually put together by a reporter, usually including the reporter, reporter voiceover, natural sound, and one or more interview segments (bites). Usually abbreviated PKG, sometimes called pack. Normally ends with standard signature (sig) close (or out) unless otherwise noted.

paywall: Requiring payment in order to access an online site.

pixels: Short for picture elements … the tiny circles of color that make up a video screen. The more pixels, the more detail and sharper the image.

podcast: Online, material available for download to be played on a computer or portable electronic device.

pool: Generally refers to the use of shared (or pooled) resources, most commonly a single photographer or group of photographers at an event where all media can receive and use the material.

pre-pro: Short for pre-production, the advance production of material done prior to the newscast.

producer: A field producer works with a reporter to determine the audio and video aspects of a story. A segment producer typically oversees the writing and production of various segments within a newscast (e.g., health, consumer). A show producer or line producer typically oversees the writing, graphics, sequence and, to varying degrees, content of a newscast. An executive producer typically oversees one or more newscasts and the producer or producers who handle those newscasts. Depending on the station, the executive producer is likely to be the number 2 or number 3 management person in the newsroom (after the news director and assistant news director, if the station has one).

PSA: Most commonly used as an abbreviation for public service announcement—spots run for free by radio and TV stations for nonprofit events or organizations. Also refers to pre-sunrise authority, by which certain AM radio stations operate at reduced power between 6 a.m. and average monthly sunrise.

Quicktime: Video format developed by Apple.

rating: The percentage of people or households listening (radio) or watching (TV) of all the people or households who could listen or watch (in the defined area and have a radio or TV). See share.

reader: In TV, a story to be read by an anchor on camera.

SEO: Search engine optimization … the process of choosing words, especially in headlines, to maximize the ability of search engines to locate material.

share: The percentage of people or households listening (radio) or watching (TV) of all the people or households who are listening or watching at that time. See rating.

sig out, sig close: The standard line used by reporters to end all packages. Typically something like Sue Smith, WXXX-TV, Cityville.

sil: Abbreviation for silent—to indicate that there is no usable audio on a piece of video. See also VO.

slug: Refers to the word or phrase identifying a given story on assignment listings and show rundowns. Also refers to the slug line plus the initials or last name of the writer, the date and the newscast the story is being written for—all of which generally appear in the upper left or across the top of the page.

SNG: Satellite news gathering, as opposed to in the studio or via microwave.

SOT: Stands for sound on tape. Usually used to indicate that a segment of video should be run at regular, full audio level (with accompanying picture).

spots: Radio and TV term for commercial announcements.

SS: Still store (electronic) frequently designated as BSS, box still store (the box accompanying an anchor shot), or FSS, full (screen) still store (where the video fills the screen).

stand-up: A story or segment of a story during which a reporter at the scene talks on camera.

stick mic: Handheld microphone. See lav.

super: The superimposition of lettering over video—most commonly names and titles.

sx: Common abbreviation for sports. Also sometimes Spx.

tag: Scripted close to a radio or TV package, story or commercial—usually at least one full sentence.

talent: People who perform on the air, including newscasters, weather and sports, but not reporters.

tease, teaser: Usually a short bit of information on an upcoming story that is used to tease the audience so they will continue to listen or watch the newscast, especially used just before commercials.

toss: The introduction of another person or video by an anchor or reporter.

url: Uniform resource locator … the address of a website.

visuals: Pictures or graphics accompanying a story. See B-roll.

VO: Short for voiceover, used to indicate anchor or reporter reading during a video segment. Presumes voiceover natural sound unless indicated otherwise (VO/sil).

voiceover: See VO.

voicer: In radio, a story read by a reporter, with the reporter’s voice (and perhaps natural sound under) the only audio on the tape (no actualities).

VTR: Videotape recording.

webcast: Audio or video feed on the web … usually streamed live. wide shot, WS: See long shot/LS.

wild sound: See background/bg and natural sound.

wrap: In radio, a voicer that includes one or more actualities. Also a time cue directing talent or reporter to conclude presentation or interview.

wx: Common abbreviation for weather.