Category: News – This Explainer

A background briefing gives journalists information under agreed attribution rules that usually allow use without naming the speaker.

A press credential identifies a journalist who has been approved for specific access, but it is not a universal license or guarantee of credibility.

A newsroom budget allocates money and staff across reporting, editing, visuals, technology, travel, safety, and long-term projects.

A public editor independently examines newsroom decisions, reader complaints, corrections, ethics, and accountability to the audience.

An editorial is an institutional opinion article that argues a position while remaining clearly separated from a newsroom’s factual reporting.

A photo editor assigns visual coverage, evaluates images, verifies context, writes accurate captions, and makes ethical publication choices.

A news tip is information offered to journalists as a possible lead that must be assessed, verified, and reported independently.

A homepage editor selects, organizes, and updates the journalism presented most prominently on a news website or app.

A sidebar is a separate companion article that adds context, explanation, profiles, data, or practical information to a main report.

A stringer is an independent local contributor who supplies reporting, photos, or video to a news organization when needed.

The news hole is the space or time available for journalism after advertising and other fixed material are accounted for.

A copy editor strengthens accuracy, clarity, structure, grammar, and consistency while preserving a reporter’s verified meaning.