News & media
B2 Pre-Advanced • Vocabulary
TV & radio news, newspapers, publishing terms, and how we describe media.
1. People on TV & radio
anchor
– the main presenter who reads the news on TV, usually in the studio.
The evening news anchor has a very clear, neutral accent.
correspondent
– a journalist who reports from another country or on a particular topic.
Our sports correspondent was reporting live from Madrid.
viewer
– someone who watches a programme, event, or report on television.
Millions of viewers tuned in to watch the final debate.
listener
– someone who follows programmes or news on the radio.
The breakfast show has loyal listeners all over the country.
2. TV & radio programmes
broadcast
– (v.) to send out a programme on TV, radio, or online; (n.) the programme itself.
The speech was broadcast live on three national channels.
live coverage
– reporting an event while it is happening or just after it has happened.
There was live coverage of the election results all night.
breaking news
– very recent or developing news that is being reported immediately.
We interrupt this programme to bring you breaking news from Rome.
talk show
– a TV or radio programme where guests are interviewed, often in front of an audience.
He was invited onto a late-night talk show to promote his new film.
commercials / ads
– paid advertisements shown between or during programmes.
The film was good, but there were too many commercials in the break.
ratings
– figures or scores that show how many people watch something and how much they like it.
The drama series had such high ratings that it was renewed for another season.
current affairs programme
– a show where people discuss important political, social, or global issues.
We watched a current affairs programme on climate policy last night.
weather forecast
– a prediction of future weather, often shown at the end of the news.
According to the weather forecast, it’s going to rain all weekend.
3. Newspaper texts & sections
headline
– the large title above a news story, especially on the front page.
The scandal made the front-page headlines worldwide.
article
– a piece of writing in a newspaper, magazine, or online, usually on one topic.
I read an article about working from home in yesterday’s paper.
editorial
– an article that gives the newspaper’s official opinion on an issue.
Today’s editorial criticises the new immigration law.
column
– a regular piece written by the same person in the same part of a newspaper or magazine.
I never miss her Saturday travel column.
feature
– a longer, more detailed article that explores a topic in depth.
There was a six-page feature on life in the Arctic.
front page
– the first page of a newspaper, containing the most important stories.
The election result dominated the front page this morning.
small ads
– short, simple advertisements, often in the classified section.
He found his new flat by checking the small ads in the local paper.
4. People & organisations in the press
journalist
– someone whose job is to gather information and write news stories.
The journalist travelled to the region to interview local residents.
editor
– the person who checks and corrects texts before publication, and often decides what will be printed.
The editor asked her to shorten the article by 200 words.
press release
– an official written statement sent to the media to announce something.
The company issued a press release about the new product launch.
media outlet
– any organisation that publishes or broadcasts news (TV channel, website, newspaper, etc.).
Several international media outlets covered the story.
tabloid
– a newspaper with smaller pages and shorter articles, often focusing on celebrities and gossip.
The story first appeared in a British tabloid.
5. Control & freedom of the press
censorship
– when authorities block part or all of a text, film, or programme so the public cannot see it.
The documentary was not shown on TV because of strict censorship laws.
biased
– clearly showing the writer’s opinion or preference instead of staying neutral.
The article was so biased that it ignored the other side of the argument completely.
unbiased
– fair and balanced, presenting information without taking sides.
The report tried to remain unbiased and included voices from all parties.
sensationalist
– written in a way that exaggerates or shocks in order to attract attention, often at the cost of accuracy.
Some sensationalist headlines made the story sound much worse than it really was.
Censorship & bias
Media literacy • critical reading
Exercises:
News & Media
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence below.
1
The main presenter who introduces the stories on a TV news programme is called the
.
Correct:
An anchor = the main news presenter who reads the news in the studio.
2
The report was presented by the station's political
reporting live from Brussels.
Correct:
A correspondent = a journalist who reports for TV, radio or newspapers, often from another city or country.
3
The series was watched by millions of TV
around the world.
Correct:
A viewer = a person who watches television. (Here: millions of viewers.)
4
The radio station asked every
to text in their opinion on the new show.
Correct:
A listener = a person who listens to the radio or a podcast.
5
The match will
live on national television at 8 p.m. tonight.
Correct:
To broadcast = to send out a TV or radio programme so that people can receive it.
6
The channel is giving
of the election results all evening, with reporters in several cities.
Correct:
Live coverage = reporting on an event in real time as it happens.
7
"We interrupt this programme to bring you
" said the announcer as a major story was happening right now.
Correct:
Breaking news = very important news that is happening at this moment.
8
On this late-night
celebrities and experts sit on a sofa and chat with the host.
Correct:
A talk show = a TV or radio programme where a host talks with guests.
9
In American English, the short adverts that appear in the breaks during TV programmes are called
.
Correct:
Commercials = TV or radio advertisements, especially in American English.
10
When you scroll through a news website, you often see small online
trying to sell you products or services.
Correct:
Ads (advertisements) = messages that try to persuade you to buy something, especially online or in print.
11
The show was cancelled because the TV
were very low and almost nobody watched it.
Correct:
TV ratings = numbers that show how many people watch a programme and how popular it is.
12
Every Sunday night there is a serious
that discusses politics and social issues in depth.
Correct:
A current affairs programme = a TV or radio show that examines political and social news in detail.
13
After the news, they showed the
so viewers could see if it would rain tomorrow.
Correct:
The weather forecast = a report on TV, radio or online about what the weather will be like.
14
The main story on the website had a big, bold
that immediately caught my attention.
Correct:
A headline = the title of a news article or the main line summarising a news story.
News & Media
Match the sentences with the news & media words
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