Note: no editorial or technical glossary can hope to be complete or wholly satisfy the expert, especially since the speed of advance in television technology has turned into a gallop. Some terms are universally understood within television news, others mean different things to different organizations or remain unique to those who apply them. In a few areas, equipment and the process of using it is known by trade name. These are among the most widely used and accepted.
ABC (1) American Broadcasting Company; (2) Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Access time Interval between the selection of a computer function and its appearance on the screen.
Actuality See Natural sound.
Agency copy (wire copy) Written material received from news agencies, now usually through newsroom computer systems.
Anchor Main presenter of a news programme. See also Newscaster, Newsreader, Presenter.
Animation As used in television news, usually the technique of adding or changing information on a graphic.
AP Associated Press, an American news agency.
APTV Television arm of AP.
ASBU Arab States Broadcasting Union.
Aspect ratio Ratio of width to height of a television picture. Currently 4:3, but 16:9 becoming more widely used.
Assignment sheet Written instruction setting out details of an event to be covered.
Assignments desk Department responsible for assigning reporters and camera crews.
Assignments editor Executive responsible for assigning reporters and camera crews.
Aston Makers of caption-generating and other electronic equipment.
Astra Luxembourg-operated communications satellite.
Autocue Makers of electronic prompting device which enables performers to read a script while looking directly at the camera. Other makes include Autoscript, Portaprompt and Teleprompter.
Avid Manufacturer of non-linear picture editing systems. Other makers include Lightworks.
BBC British Broadcasting Corporation.
Betacam Half-inch (19 mm) video format introduced by the Sony Corporation.
Betacam SP Superior performance Betacam.
Betacart Computerized carousel system for the transmission of Beta video cassettes.
Bird Communications satellite. Named after Early Bird, the first satellite launched after the creation of Intelsat, the organization set up to establish a global system; hence ‘birding’ for the process of transmitting material by satellite.
BJTC Broadcast Journalism Training Council. Regulatory body for standards of broadcast journalism training in colleges and universities.
Camcorder Combined lightweight video camera and recorder.
Cans Slang for headphones.
Caption Generic term for television news artwork. See also Graphics.
Cassette See Video(tape) cassette.
CATV (community antenna television) System of distributing broadcast services by cable.
CBS Columbia Broadcasting System. United States radio and television network.
Ceefax BBC broadcast teletext system.
Character generator Electronic method of producing on-screen lettering in a variety of type sizes and fonts.
Chip Integrated computer circuit.
Clarke Belt Position 22 300 miles (36 000 km) above the equator in which orbiting communications satellites appear to be stationary; after the British science writer Arthur C. Clarke who first advocated the use of satellites for broadcasting.
Clean feed Actuality (natural) sound of an event free from commentary.
Closed circuit Means of distributing pictures and sound privately to selected points.
CNN (Cable News Network) All-news channel based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Colour bars A test signal in the shape of eight coloured vertical stripes.
Communications satellite Man-made device positioned in space as a means of passing television or other signals from one part of the globe to another. See also Intelsat.
Comsat Communications Satellite Corporation (US).
Control room/gallery Room next to or above studio from which production and technical operations are controlled during transmission of programmes.
Copy Written material for news.
Correspondent Journalist employed to report on a specialist subject or geographical location.
Countdown Time given in reverse order, usually announced aloud in the control room or by a computer transmitted voice. To ensure the smooth transition from one source to the next.
CPU (central processing unit) The computer’s ‘brain’.
CSO (colour separation overlay; also known as Chromakey) An electronic means of merging pictures from separate sources, giving the illusion, for example, that a performer in the studio is set against a pictorial background.
CU Close-up.
Cue Signal given to start or stop action.
Cut (1) An edit; (2) A deletion.
Cut-away Editing term for a shot inserted as a means of telescoping the action in a picture sequence without loss of continuity.
Cut-away/cut-in questions Questions repeated for the camera after an interview to provide a continuity bridge between edited sections.
Cut-ins Extra shots, close-ups for example, edited into the main action of a scene.
Cut-off Area of a television picture lost naturally from the domestic screen.
Cuts Also known as trims or out-takes; pictures excluded from an edited story.
Cut story Complete and edited news picture item.
Cutting/clipping Item cut or copied from a newspaper or other printed source.
Database File of information held by computer.
DBS (direct broadcasting by satellite) System of transmitting broadcast signals to individual households using high-powered satellites. Also known as direct-to-home.
Deaf aid Close-fitting earpiece through which a performer in the studio or in the field can be given instructions directly by editorial/production staff.
Diary story News event covered by pre-arrangement.
Dish Shaped antenna for transmitting or receiving satellite signals.
Disk Electronic storage system for storing computer information.
DOG Digitally originated graphics.
Door-stepper Informal interview obtained by waiting for the subject ‘on the doorstep’.
Dope-sheet Camera-operator’s detailed record of tape or film shot on location.
Down-bulletin A news item that goes in the middle or near the end of a programme.
Dry run Rehearsal without the camera.
Dub To add or re-record sound to edited pictures.
Duration Exact time/length of a programme or item within it.
DVC Digital video camera.
DVD Digital video disk.
DVE Digital video equipment.
Editor Executive in overall charge of a single news programme.
Establishing shot Scene-setting shot of people or subject.
Euronews French-based international news provider.
Eurovision European international network for the exchange of television programmes.
Eyeline The direction in which the camera sees the subject to be looking.
FCC Federal Communications Commission. The US government agency responsible for broadcasting.
Field producer Editorial supervisor of off-base assignment. See also Fixer.
File (1) Send a report; (2) Document stored electronically on computer.
File footage Archive/library material.
Fire brigade Editorial/camera team assigned at short notice to cover news breaks, usually abroad.
Fixer Coordinator accompanying unit in the field. Often acts as the main point of contact between home/base and team on location.
Follow-up News report based on previously broadcast or published material.
Footprint Area covered by satellite transmission.
Format (1) Overall style and ‘look’ of a programme; (2) Videotape size or recording pattern.
Frame A single still picture from a moving film or tape.
Frame/picture/stills store Electronic method of storing and displaying still pictures.
Free puff Slang for a news item which publicizes an event or product.
Freeze frame A single frame of video or film held to stop action.
Futures file Collection of information about items for possible future news coverage.
FX Sound effects.
Gallery See Control room.
Geostationary orbit Orbit in which satellites appear to remain in the same place relative to the Earth. See Clarke Belt.
Graphics General name for artwork or artwork department.
Gun mike See Rifle mike.
GV General view.
Handback/Handover Performer’s form of words used to signal that his/her contribution has come to an end.
Hand-carried Equipment or material transported personally rather than sent as freight or by electronic means. See Pigeon.
Hand-held Camera or other equipment used without a tripod or other steadying device.
Handout Free publicity material given to news organizations.
Hand-over Form of words used as a cue for another performer (e.g. ‘Now, with the sports news …’). See Handback.
Hard copy Printed paper version of computer-generated material.
Hard news Straight, serious news.
Hardware Computer equipment.
HDTV High definition television. System of 1000+ lines offering superior quality pictures.
Helical scan System which scans videotape in slanting tracks.
In-cue Opening words of a news report.
Inject Live contribution to a news programme from a distant source.
Inset Visual representation of news item, usually placed over a presenter’s shoulder during a newscast.
Intake/input Department responsible for news gathering. See Assignments desk.
Intelsat (International Telecommunications Satellite Organization) Originators of the global system by which television signals and telephony are beamed from one country to others. See Communications satellite.
Intro Introduction: opening sentences of a news story. Also known as Link or Lead-in.
In vision/on camera (story) Item or part item read by performer in the studio without further illustration.
ITC (Independent Television Commission) Regulatory body for independent television.
ITN (Independent Television News) Company responsible for providing national television news to several ITV companies and for services to other broadcasters.
Jump cut An ugly edit which destroys continuity, making a subject appear to jump from one position to another in successive shots.
K (kilobyte) Measurement of computer memory.
Keying colour Colour chosen to activate CSO/chromakey.
Key light Chief source of artificial light for a camera scene.
Key shot Master shot.
Lay-on Arrange coverage.
Lead (1) Opening item of a newscast; (2) Opening sentence of a broadcast news item.
Leader Portion of tape which precedes the first frame of picture, usually calibrated in seconds to aid countdown.
Lead-in See Intro.
Library material/tape See File footage.
Line Telecommunications circuit between transmitting and receiving points.
Line-up Period immediately before a recording or programme transmission during which the final technical checks are carried out.
Live As it happens.
Location Geographical position of an event.
LS Long shot.
Magazine programme Programme which is a mix of hard news and feature items.
Mic/mike Microphone.
Minicam Mobile electronic camera unit with live capability.
Modem Modulator/demodulator which allows computer signals to be transmitted by telephone.
Monitor Screen for displaying television pictures or computer-generated data.
Mono (1) Black and white (film); (2) Non-stereophonic sound.
Monopod Single extendable pole fitted to the base of a camera to keep it steady.
Multilateral Shared communications satellite booking by three or more users.
Multiplexer Vision and sound link which allows several video sources in succession to be routed at high speed on to one line for transmission.
Natural sound Sound recorded onto tape at the same time as the pictures are taken.
NBC National Broadcasting Company. US network.
Neck/personal mike Small lightweight microphone which clips onto clothing or is suspended from a cord round the neck.
Network (1) National broadcasting system; (2) Linked computer devices.
Newscaster See Anchor; Newsreader; Presenter.
News director (US) Executive in charge of news department.
News editor Senior journalist. In television usually concerned with news-gathering. See Assignments desk.
Newsreader See Anchor; Newscaster; Presenter.
Newswriter Newsroom-based journalist responsible for assembling and writing items for broadcast.
Noddies Reporter’s simulated reaction shots for use as interview cutaways.
Non-linear editing Computerized video editing system which allows sound and pictures to be edited out of sequence.
NTSC National Television Standards Committee which gave its name to the US system of colour television.
NVQs National Vocational Qualifications.
OB Outside broadcast.
OC On camera. See In vision.
Onion bag String bag used for carrying videotape cassettes, so called for its resemblance to the bags in which onions are sold.
OOV (Out of vision) Commentary spoken by unseen reader. Also known as voice-over.
OS Outside Source. Similar to OB (above) but more common in news bulletin use.
Out-cue Final words of a news report.
Output News department responsible for the selection, processing and presentation of news material for broadcast. Counterpart of Intake/input.
Out-takes See Cuts.
Overlay Editing technique for matching a recorded sound track with relevant pictures. Also known as underlay.
PA (1) Press Association, a British domestic news agency; (2) Production assistant; (3) Programme assistant.
Package Self-contained pictorial news report comprising a number of different components.
Paintbox Electronic graphics system.
PAL (Phase Alternation (by) Line) Colour television system.
Pan Camera movement on (1) the horizontal plane; (2) the vertical plane.
PASB (programme as broadcast) Details of programme content for record and payment purposes.
PC Personal computer.
Peripheral Printer or other device linked to a computer.
Piece to camera/stand-up(per) Report spoken directly to the camera in the field.
Pigeon Traveller entrusted with the delivery of videotape from camera unit to base.
Pixel Picture element.
Presenter See Anchor; Newscaster; Newsreader.
Producer Person responsible for (1) entire news programme; (2) item(s) within it.
Program Set of instructions compiled to enable a computer to carry out a specific function.
Quadruplex Videotape machine with four vision heads recording across a magnetic tape 2 in (50 mm) wide.
Quantel Makers of electronic production equipment, particularly for computer graphics.
Quarter-cam Quarter-inch format video recording system.
Radio mike Microphone used with small transmitter; needs no cable link with recording equipment.
RAM (random access memory) Main computer memory. Anything put into it is lost when the machine is switched off.
Reuters British-based international agency, providing general, financial and television news services.
Reverse question See Cut-away/cut-in questions.
Rifle mike Directional microphone with long, barrel-like pick-up tube.
ROM (read-only memory) Program permanently built in or added to computer.
Rostrum camera Camera mounted on the photographic enlarger principle to control taping of maps and other static objects.
Rough cut First assembly of tape edited to its approximately pre-selected order and duration.
Running order/rundown Order of transmission of items in a programme.
Run through Rehearsal.
Run up The time considered necessary for technical equipment to become fully operational.
Rushes Unedited raw material from the camera.
RX Recording.
Scanner Mobile control centre serving outside broadcast unit.
SECAM (Sequence Couleur Avec Memoire) French colour television system.
Shot-list Detailed description of each scene in edited tape or film, from which the commentary is written to match the pictures.
Skillset London-based broadcast, film and video industry training organization.
Sky News BSkyB 24-hour news channel.
SOC (standard outcue) Standard phrase spoken by a programme’s team of reporters at the end of every contribution.
Soft (1) A shot that is slightly out of focus; (2) Opposite of hard news.
Software Computer programs.
SOT Sound on tape.
Soundbite Interview or speech extract chosen for inclusion in edited news package.
Sound track(s) Area of tape on which sound is recorded.
SOVT Sound on VT.
Split screen Picture composed of two separate elements, each occupying half of the screen area. (A picture with more than two elements is known as a multi-screen.)
Stick mike Stick-shaped microphone much favoured for news work for speed of preparation and ease of use.
Still A single picture.
Still frame See Freeze frame.
Stock Raw unused tape.
Stringer A freelance contributor employed on a regular basis.
Studio spot (Usually) a contribution made live in a studio by a journalist other than the main presenter(s).
Superimposition Usually abbreviated to super or more commonly now: CapGen. Electronic combination of two or more pictures to give extra information on the screen (often a speaker’s name or title).
Talk-back One-way sound link between the control room and other technical areas.
Talking head Any interviewee; also used pejoratively in the sense that to have too many talking heads on a news programme is considered unimaginative.
Teleprompter See Autocue.
Teletext Broadcast videotex. On-screen text information transmitted on unused lines within the television signal.
Terminal Computer keyboard. See also VTD/VDU.
Tilt Vertical panning movement of the camera.
Transponder (Transmitter/responder) On-board satellite equipment which receives and passes on a telecommunications signal.
Tripod Adjustable three-legged stand fixed to the base of a camera to keep it steady.
TVRO Television receive only.
Two-shot A shot of two people.
TX Transmission.
Unilateral Exclusive use by one broadcasting organization of communications satellite or other links.
Upcut US term for the accidental overlapping of two sound sources (e.g. live commentary running into recorded sound).
VDT/VDU Visual display terminal/unit. Display screen linked to computer.
Videotape (VT/VTR) System of recording television pictures and sound onto magnetic tape.
Video(tape) cassette Container which allows tape to be threaded automatically into cameras and recorders.
Videotex ‘Written’ information distributed to television/display screens from central computers.
Viewdata Non-broadcast videotex accessed over the telephone.
Vision story See In vision/on camera (story).
VNR (video news release) Video version of written press release.
Voice-over See OOV.
Vox pop (Vox populi) A series of usually very short interviews on a specific topic, often with people selected at random, and edited together to give a cross-section of opinion.
Whip pan (zip pan) Very high speed panning movement of the camera.
Wild track/wild sound Recorded sound which is related to but not synchronized with the picture.
Wipe (1) An electronic production technique akin to ‘turning the page’; (2) Erase.
www World Wide Web.
WYSIWYG (whizzywig) Literally: What You See Is What You Get! Warning to journalists that what they type into a computer is what gets onto the broadcasting screen. The computer cannot be blamed because it is only a tool for the human hand to deploy.
Zip Moving scrolling words on the screen, usually at the bottom.
Zoom lens A lens giving a variable focal length.