Glossary

back-announce Radio technique in which announcer identifies song title and artist information after the music has been played. 

back light A light cast on a subject from behind to separate it from the background and illuminate the hair. 

backpack journalist See MMJ. 

back timing Timing a program, segment by segment, from the end to the beginning, so adjustments can be made to end the program at an exact time. 

BEA Broadcast Education Association, an organization of educators who teach media classes; affiliated with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) (www.beaweb.org). 

beat News assignment in which reporter has a specific area, such as education or health, to cover for possible stories. 

beautiful music See easy listening. 

bed Sound that is the background to a voice-over. 

beeper Recorded telephone conversation during which an electronic beep sounds periodically to indicate the conversation is being recorded; also, a wireless paging device used to contact news reporters. 

bidirectional Pickup pattern of a microphone that picks up sound from two directions, usually directly opposite each other. 

billboard Listing of upcoming events on a broadcast station. 

blocking Rehearsing movement of actors and cameras prior to a television production; also, program strategy in which similar programs are placed next to each other to attract a similar audience. 

blog A regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.

board The control panel for all audio sources; another term for audio console. 

board announcer Also known as staff announcer; person hired to do general announcing not related to a specific program. 

board operator The person who physically controls the audio sources using the audio console. 

Bollywood The Indian Hindi language film industry. This word is a combination of Bombay (the city is now known as Mumbai and is the location of the Hindi film industry) and Hollywood.

boom Apparatus with an extension arm used to hang the microphone overhead and out of the view of the television cameras or suspended over an audio console. 

breathy voice Speech style in which excess air escapes while the person is speaking; a voice similar to actress Marilyn Monroe’s. 

Broadcast Education Association See BEA. 

broadcast journalist Term associated with newscaster who not only reads the news, but also gathers, writes, and constructs the newscast. 

bulk eraser Electrically powered magnetic coil that erases an entire audio- or videotape when it is placed over the mechanism. 

bumper Short bit or musical interlude that goes between segments of a show. 

cable puller Part of production crew whose job it is tokeep camera cables from getting snagged and tangled.

calling the game Primary duty of certain sports announcers, which is to inform the audience of the progress of a broadcast athletic event. 

call-in talk show Program format in which the primary purpose is to talk and includes telephone calls from viewers or listeners. 

camera panic Inability to perform effectively when in front of the television camera caused by anxiety about being on air. 

cardioid Describes the heart-shaped pickup pattern of a microphone with a larger area of pickup in front of the mic and lobes of pickup on both sides. 

catch-all question Technique used by interviewers to allow the guest a chance to say anything he or she did not get to say during an interview. 

CD See compact disc. 

CG See character generator. 

chain Group of broadcast stations owned by one company; early broadcast term for a network. 

channel Section of an audio console and its associated switches that allows the operator to control a piece of equipment. 

character generator Type of computer used in a television studio to place names, titles, and other graphics on the screen; also known as a CG. 

cheating to the camera Placing yourself in a position that is advantageous to show your movement or action on a television camera. 

checkbook journalism Paying sources for news. 

choppy A vocal delivery style where pauses are added too frequently, disrupting the flow of speech. 

CHR See contemporary hit radio. 

chroma-key Electronic effect often used by newscasters and weathercasters. Two video sources are merged into one picture; one source includes a color background, usually blue or green, and another picture is placed electronically in the color area. 

classic hits See oldies.

classical music Radio format that features classical music of the master composers. 

clearance Permission to use copyrighted material. 

cliches Overused, trite expressions that have become artificial in their usage. 

clip-on mic Microphone that is attached to the performer's clothing, usually a coat or blouse. 

closed-ended questions Questions that result in one-word “yes” or “no” answers. 

cluster Group of commercials or songs played together. 

CNN Cable News Network; begun by Ted Turner in the 1980s as the first 24-hour cable all-news service; after initial struggles, its growth and popularity forced other broadcasters to expand their news operations (www.cnn.com). 

co-anchors The two people in a newscast who share reading the stories and introducing field reports. 

cold copy Script the announcer has not yet seen and must still perform. 

color Commentator/sports announcer who adds analysis and insight to the play-by-play announcer's calling of the game or event. 

commercial Advertisement on radio, television, or cable. 

commercial cluster A grouping of advertisements played during a break in the programming; also known as a commercial sweep, spot set, or stop set. 

community billboard Announcements made by a radio, television, or cable station about upcoming community activities; also known as a community calendar or community bulletin board. 

compact disc CD; audio information is digitally formatted on a small (5”), silver-coated plastic disc and played back by an optical system that incorporates a laser. 

computer editing Use of computers to put together various parts of audio or video presentations. 

computerized newsroom Television or radio newsroom that uses computerized equipment. 

condenser microphone Type of microphone that uses an electric capacitor circuit to reproduce sound. 

console Entire desk-like structure that holds the audio board and other audio or video equipment. 

contact list A list of friends and acquaintances in the broadcast industry who may provide a lead for a job position.  

contemporary hit radio Radio format, also known as Top 40, that features modern popular artists; songs are usually presented in a rotation and heard every 90 minutes. 

continuity writers Station employees responsible for writing commercials and transition material to move from one program segment to another; also called “creatives.” 

contractions Abbreviated words that are useful to sound conversational, such as “don't” for “do not” and “I'll” for “I will.” 

control room Area of a broadcast facility that houses the equipment (audio console, television switcher, camera monitors, etc.) necessary to put together a production; the nerve center. 

conversational style Way of speaking that uses short sentences, contractions, and simple words

copy Another term for a broadcast script. 

copy book List of all the announcements or commercials that need to be read during the broadcast day. 

copy marking A system of symbols to help the announcer interpret a script. 

copyright The ownership of a creative piece of material, including music. 

correspondent News reporter assigned to a beat; often assigned to a foreign location, such as the Mideast, but also domestic locations, such as the White House. 

country Popular radio format that features country artists in a very controlled format with friendly and well- informed announcers. 

cover shot Television picture that shows the entire set. 

crank up the gain Reference to bringing the fader up on the audio console so that there is more signal strength. 

creatives Writers of commercials and other original copy for stations. 

credibility personal quality of being trusted and believed in; an essential quality for all media personalities but especially for news.

cross-fade Transition used in radio when changing from one song to another; the board operator slowly brings down the volume on one song and at the same time brings the volume up on the other song so that for a brief period of time the listeners hear both songs. 

crossover Describes an artist or a song that is acceptable in more than one format. 

C-SPAN Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network; cable television network that broadcasts sessions of Congress, political talk, and interviews. 

CU Close-up; television term that refers to camera shot that shows a very “tight” frame, such as a person from the chest up. 

cue Physical indication to the broadcast performer to begin. 

cue cards Notes written in large print on pieces of cardboard and held next to the camera so the talent can refer to them during a performance. 

cue tone Audio signal that indicates the beginning of a tape. 

culture Refers to the behavior of a group which would include both verbal and non-verbal communication.

cutaway shots Reaction shots used in editing a videotape to avoid jump cuts; often of an interviewer or reporter listening to a response. 

cut in Inclusion of video from another source during a news broadcast. 

cyber jockey Satellite music DJ.

DAT See digital audiotape. 

dayparts Segments of the broadcast day, such as morning drive time, and 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. 

dead air Silence. 

decibel Unit used to show relative difference in acoustic power; measures volume of sound. 

de-emphasize Less energy in delivery. 

de-essing Elimination of high frequencies often associated with s sound. 

defamation False statement that damages the reputation of a person or group. 

delay system Used for call-in shows; the recording of phone calls on live programs that are replayed some seconds later to allow for elimination of unwanted words by callers. 

demographics Characteristics of an audience, such as age, sex, or income. 

dialect Regional variation of a language with a particular accent. 

diaphragm Muscle used in breathing; separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. 

diaphragmatic breathing  A breathing technique where the air goes into the lower abdomen not into the chest cavity.  Named for the diaphragm muscle. Proper breathing controls the number of words you can say without taking a breath and also eliminates a ‘breathy” sound.

digital System in which reproduction of sound or video is made by conversion of the analog source into electronic bits represented by binary numbers. 

digital audio codec A device or computer program capable of encoding or decoding a digital data stream. At any remote location where there is a Wifi signal or a connection to the internet, a broadcast of studio quality is easy to achieve with the small black box, most popularly manufactured by Comrex.

digital audiotape Equipment in which sound is recorded and played back using a digital system. 

digital video effects DVE; manipulation of the video picture to produce special effects, such as tumbling or flipping the video. 

director The production team person responsible for selecting and organizing the audio and visual contents of a television program. 

disc jockey DJ; the person who announces and plays the music at a radio station. 

dissolve Audio or video technique in which one source slowly changes to another source; a simultaneous fade-in of one source and fade-out of another. 

distortion The warping or inappropriate changing of an audio or video signal. 

DJ See disc jockey. 

dolly To move a television camera forward and back. 

donut commercial Commercial that already has recorded copy at the beginning and end, leaving a hole in the middle for the local announcer to fill. 

dramatic pause To stop reading the copy momentarily to create anticipation or tension. 

dramatization commercial Known as a “slice-of-life” spot; announcers use dialogue, sound effects, and music to act out the selling message. 

drive time Period of the day, morning or afternoon, when people are going to work or coming home; most important times of day to reach the radio audience. 

dub To make a copy of an audio or video recording. 

duration Refers to varying the length of key words or phrases when interpreting a script. 

DVD Digital Video Disk. A silver disk that has replaced videotape in most situations. 

DVE See digital video effects. 

dynamic microphone Also known as a moving coil; a diaphragm vibrates in sympathy with the sound, moving an attached wire coil through a magnetic field and creating an electrical signal. 

EAS See Emergency Alert System. 

easy listening Radio format in which popular songs are presented in heavily orchestrated versions; also known as beautiful music. 

EBS See Emergency Broadcast System. 

edit To put together an audio or video piece by combining, cutting, or splicing. 

editing booth Small room or studio designed to house equipment necessary for editing video or audio recordings. 

effect Television term for the complex visual changes between camera shots that are generated by computers. Also, the transition itself. 

EFP See electronic field production. 

egg-on-face look Forced facial expression when performer tries to hold a smile too long; often occurs at end of production on last camera shot before video fades to black. 

electronic field production EFP; video recording done on-location using portable equipment. 

electronic news gathering ENG; television news done on-location. 

ellipsis Three dots (…) indicating omission of a word or phrase, usually from a quotation, but also often used to indicate a pause in a broadcast script. 

Emergency Alert System EAS; national warning system using radio, television, and cable stations for disaster notification or weather alerts. 

Emergency Broadcast System EBS; the predecessor of the EAS. 

Emphasis use of inflection to make a word stand out in the message.

Energy Ability to add life to reading copy using projection and and inflection.

ENG See electronic news gathering. 

equal time Phrase from Section 315 of the Communications Act; refers to station obligation to provide equal air time to qualified political candidates. 

ESPN Entertainment and Sports Programming Network; sports cable network. 

fact sheet commercial List of important information about a product or service used by an announcer to ad-lib a commercial. 

fade-in Gradual increase of audio (silence to sound) or video (black to picture) signal. 

fade-out Gradual decrease of audio (sound to silence) or video (picture to black) signal. 

fader Sliding-type mechanism that controls audio or video signal level. 

fairness doctrine FCC policy that required stations to present all sides of a controversial issue; no longer in effect, but a concept still practiced by stations. 

fair use Exception to copyright law that permits minimal use of copyrighted material without payment of a fee. 

FCC See Federal Communications Commission. 

feature interviews Style of interview that is designed to entertain or to explain in depth an interesting person or issue. 

Federal Communications Commission FCC; governmental agency created in 1934 to supervise all forms of broadcasting and cable (www.fcc.gov). 

feedback A loud, piercing whistle or howl that occurs when an activated microphone is too close to a speaker.  

fidelity The accuracy of signal reproduction, especially audio. 

file footage Archival videotape of historic events (such as a presidential visit) or often used locations (such as city hall) that may be reused in news stories. 

fill light A secondary front light for lighting a subject. Placed to soften shadows created by the key light. 

flaring When a spotlight strikes a camera lens and causes a bright flash. 

follow-up question Additional question asked during an interview to gain more information based on an answer to previous question. 

floor manager Television studio crew person who acts as extension of director; gives cues to talent. 

flow  Ability to read copy without stumbling, starting over, pausing too often or over enunciating.

format Program plan and style of radio or television station. 

format clock Radio program plan that describes what type of music or announcing should be done based on the part of the hour. 

freelancer Individual working in broadcast on an as-needed basis without permanent job assignment. 

future file Collection of ideas for possible stories to be used in news. 

gain An increase in signal power through amplification; another term for volume. 

gain control Potentiometer or slide that adjusts level of amplification. 

general-assignment reporter News reporter given a variety of stories to cover as needed. 

global or globalization refers to countries that come together to make international trading easier and can refer to companies that develop international influence.

graveyard shift Working at a broadcast station between midnight and 6:00 a.m. 

hand signals Communication with gestures; used in radio and television when voice communication is not possible. 

happy talk Informal conversation among a television news team during a broadcast to show camaraderie and personality. 

hard copy Printed version of any script. 

hard news News of a serious nature that needs to be presented immediately. 

hard rock Intense rock-and-roll music that makes extensive use of electric guitars. 

hard sell commercial Commercial that attempts to be persuasive through fast talking and loud vocal style. 

headline Brief announcement of upcoming news stories. 

headphones Earmuff-like device worn over the ears so listeners or talent can hear program audio; also known as a headset. Also used by camera crew to hear the director. 

hitting your mark Television and film production term referring to actors moving to exactly the right place on the set. 

hook Beginning of a commercial, designed to capture listener or viewer attention. 

homers Sportscasters who promote and cheer for the home team during their broadcasts. 

hot clock A chart of music, sports, weather, traffic, and news to be played during an hour sequence on radio, including the point in the hour and approximate length to be devoted to each; format clock. 

husky voice Lower-pitched vocal style that displays a harsh, raspy quality; also known as a gravelly voice. 

hyphen  Used in copy marking to indicated several words are linked into one common idea.

ID Station identification given during broadcast. 

IFB See interruptible foldback. 

International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). IFPI monitors the use of recorded music worldwide.

impromptu Speaking without rehearsal or notes. 

industrial media Audio, video, and film produced for use by corporations. 

inflection Raising and lowering of pitch of the voice for emphasis. 

infomercial Program-length commercial produced to look like a talk or interview show. 

informational interview A conversation conducted by a reporter to discover facts about a story from source; can also refer to a job-search-related interview in which only information is sought from the employer. 

infotainment  A term used to describe the merging of entertainment and information.

input selector switch Device designed to route one of several signals to the next stage of an electronic system; determines which piece of equipment is assigned to a channel of an audio console. 

integrity Development of trust with the audience; hat you say can be believed. Important aspect of rapport.

international refers to any business or organizations that operate in only two countries

International Phonetic Alphabet IPA; spelling system that aids in pronunciation; more useful for linguists than for broadcasters.

Internet disk jockey Webcasters who announce music on their own programs available only over the Internet; also known as a Net-J  

interruptible foldback IFB; intercom system from control room to on-air talent, who wears a small, transparent earpiece to hear director's instructions. 

in the mud Audio signal that is too low, as indicated on VU meter. 

in the red Audio signal that is too high, as indicated on VU meter. 

intro Introduction; beginning section of a record or program. 

IPA See International Phonetic Alphabet. 

jargon Words used by a specific profession or social group. 

jock Another term for disc jockey; individual who plays music on radio. 

jump cut A video technique in which the picture is interrupted so that movement is not continuous; caused by editing out a piece of video. 

key Video technique in which a portion of one picture is electronically eliminated and another picture is substituted in that space; also known as a “super.” 

key light The primary light for illuminating a subject. Usually a spotlight. 

key words The that highlight the important elements of the story of commercial.

kicker story Humorous or human-interest story often used to end a newscast. 

larynx Voice box; where vocal cords are located. 

lapel microphone Small microphone attached to clothing of a performer. 

lavaliere microphone Small microphone worn on a cord around the neck of a performer. Also used to refer to a lapel microphone. 

lead Opening sentence of a news story. 

lead-in One show that precedes another; also an introduction to a song. 

leading question Question that is worded to elicit a specific answer. 

LED See light-emitting diode. 

level indicator Meter that indicates volume units or video strength. 

libel A written public statement that damages a person's reputation or character; also can be used in reference to broadcast statements. 

light-emitting diode LED; a row of low-intensity lights used in studio to indicate audio level. 

light (lite) rock Radio format also known as adult contemporary (AC). 

line level Standard amount of electrical energy at which audio circuitry normally operates. 

liner notes Descriptions of music and talent found in record jackets and CD cases. 

live shot (coverage) Live audio or video report. 

live tag Additional material given at the end of a commercial by local announcer; often used to add information such as sponsor location or sale dates. 

logo Symbol of a company or product. 

looping Repetition of a portion of a video or film segment for the purposes of correcting audio. 

malapropism Misuse of words or expressions with usually humorous results. 

market A division of the U.S. population by geography that is considered an audience for a particular radio, television, or cable facility. 

major market One of the largest markets in the country, as measured by population. 

marking copy Symbols used by announcers to help with interpretation and pronunciation of scripts/copy. 

media event A public activity put on by a radio or television station for publicity. 

mic fright Fear of performance in front of a mic in a radio or television situation. 

mic level Energy output associated with microphone; this is so small that it must be amplified before it can be used in the audio system. See also line level. 

microphone Device used to turn sound into electrical energy so that it can travel through the broadcasting system. 

microphone checks Process of confirming your mis is working in a TV studio; may be asked to “give a level.”

minicam Small camera used for on-location reports; can be mounted on a variety of equipment, including helicopters. 

minidoc Minidocumentary; a long news report broken into segments and shown on successive nights. 

.mixer Equipment that allows board operator to combine various audio or video sources. 

mixing The process of combining various audio sources; requires ability to balance audio sources. 

MMJ Multi-Media Journalist. A news reporter who goes into the field with a camera, tripod and other equipment which will enable the production of a report with only one person. 

mobile unit Generally refers to a portable audio or video system that is used for on-location reports. 

moire effect Television term that refers to the apparent movement of patterns on television. 

monaural Sound that is reproduced in one channel. 

monitor pot Potentiometer or slide that controls the volume of the monitor speakers. 

monitor speaker Audio speaker in the control room used to hear output of board. 

monitoring One of the major functions of an audio console; see monitor speaker.

monotone Vocal style in which person speaks without varying pitch, volume, and rate. 

Mood Vocal techniques used to delivery copy with various feelings or emotions.

moonlighting Working at an additional job, often without your main employer being aware of it. 

morgue Storage area for program materials. 

motivational structure Organization of commercials in four stages: getting attention, creating need, satisfying need, urging action.

moving coil Another term for the dynamic microphone.

multi-national refers to those organizations or companies that operate in more than two countries. 

music bed Music played underneath announcing. 

music sweep A group of songs played without commercial interruption. 

muting relays Devices on audio boards that cut off studio and control room speakers when the microphone is activated to prevent feedback. 

NAB See National Association of Broadcasters. 

NABET See National Association of Broadcast Engineers and Technicians. 

nasality Vocal problem caused when the back of the tongue touches the soft palate and closes off the resonance in the sinus cavities. 

National Association of Broadcast Engineers and Technicians NABET; union for the technical staff of broadcast and cable stations (www.nabet.org). 

National Association of Broadcasters NAB; professional association of broadcasters that represents and advises them in congressional, FCC, and technological matters (www.nab.org). 

nat sound Natural background sound often included in news video footage. 

National Public Radio NPR; national, noncommercial radio network established as part of the 1967 Public Broadcasting Act. 

network An association of local stations who affiliate with the program supplier, such as ABC, CBS. 

network feed Video or audio story that is sent from the network to the local station. 

newscaster On-air performer specifically employed to deliver the news. 

news director Individual in charge of the overall news operation. 

news interview Style of interview specifically designed to gather information about a news event, a person in the news, or a current issue. 

news producer Individual responsible for the on-air style of a newscast; second-in-charge for many news operations. 

news script Copy used by the anchors for the news program. 

news/talk Radio format, usually AM, that features straight news, interview, discussion, and

listener call-in segments.  

nondirectional mic Microphone that picks up sound from all directions. It is also called  omnidirectional. 

NAC  see smooth jazz

NPR See National Public Radio. 

Net-J See Internet disc jockey.

O&O Station owned and operated by a network. 

off-mic When announcer is out of the range or pickup pattern of the microphone; results in a hollow sound. 

oldies Radio format that plays music from the past, usually from the late 50s to the late 60s. 

omissions Speaking problem in which sounds are omitted, such as “jog-er-fee” (geography) or “can-i-date” (candidate). 

omnidirectional Microphone pickup pattern that gathers sound from all directions. 

on-air studio Audio booth that is used for broadcast. 

on-air talent Performers who are broadcasting. 

opening up to the camera Standing so your body is facing more to the camera than to the person to whom you are talking. 

open-ended question A question that elicits a longer response and reflects the ideas of the guest. 

optimum pitch The frequency at which the voice is most comfortable in speaking. 

outcue Last four or five words of a recorded program used to alert the announcer that the segment is over. 

output The audio or video signals sent by the board to be broadcast or recorded. 

output selector switch Device designed to route audio signals to the next stage of an audio system; most common outputs are program, audition, and auxiliary. 

outro The ending of a song, program, or script. 

overmodulation Distortion of sound caused by too much volume. 

over-the-shoulder shot Two-person camera scene in which one person is facing the camera in the background, and the other person's back and shoulder are in the foreground to frame the picture. 

pacing Changes in speed in the delivery of copy. 

package Television news story made up of edited segments. 

pad Additional copy to be used if time permits; often extra news stories that might be used at the end of a newscast. Also referred to as fill.

pan pot Potentiometer that can adjust the right/left balance of a stereo channel. 

patter Informal talk. 

pattern The direction(s) that a particular microphone will pick up a signal well. 

pause  Technique used to create emphasis, break up copy, give the audience a chance to understand what you have said.

payola The payment by a record company of money or other goods to a DJ in return for playing a record. 

PC See politically correct. 

performance elements Techniques of a skillful voice; the tools you use during delivery of copy to make it interesting and understandable to the audience.

peripheral vision The area that we see out the sides of each eye without looking directly in that direction; used for taking cues in television without losing eye contact with the camera.

performance The talent portion of being a radio announcer; one of the four P’s of effective announcing;

performance voice the voice you use in a media performance situation that requires good speech.  

personal attack rule FCC rule in which it is the responsibility of the local station to notify a person who is verbally attacked on-air and to give them the opportunity to reply. 

personal voice Normal voice; what you use with friends; can be filled with slang, bad pronunciation and poor delivery.

personality Refers to the star of a radio, television, or cable program. 

phantom power supply Means of powering microphones utilizing the audio lines and an external amp built into an audio console. 

pharynx Area between the nasal cavities and the larynx. 

phonation Making of speech sounds. 

phone screener Person who answers phone calls for a call-in show before they are given to the host of the show.  

phrasing Performance technique in which words are grouped together to enhance meaning and ensure smooth delivery style. 

phoner A live oral news report for the scene of an event.

pickup pattern Describes area in which a microphone will best detect sound. 

pitch The relative highness or lowness of the tone of a sound. 

play analyst Member of the sports announcing team whose job it is to explain the performance of the teams on the field 

play-by-play announcer Sportscaster who announces and describes each team's activity on the field during a game. 

playlist List of songs that the DJ must play. 

plosive Sudden burst of air produced when pronouncing letters such as p, b, or t. 

plugola Illegal activity in which a DJ receives money or other gifts for promoting a business or product in his or her ad-lib announcing 

podcast A digital audio program file (such as music or talk) made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically available as a series, new installments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.

polar response pattern Two-dimensional diagram that describes, using angles from a fixed reference point, the area in which a microphone can pick up sound. 

politically correct PC; refers to the way in which language is to be used so that no one person or group is offended or excluded by what is said. 

popping Burst of air produced when speaking some letters, such as p, b, or t. 

postproduction Refers to the editing, manipulating, or enhancing of a program once the recording of the basic production is complete. 

pot Short for potentiometer. 

potentiometer A round knob that controls the volume on a board. 

preparation All the chores an announcer does before going on air; one of the four P’s of effective announcing.

press kit Information packet provided to reporters by anyone interested in promoting a person, product, or company. 

prime time Time during which the audience is the largest and the advertisers are charged the most money; for radio, morning and afternoon drive times; for television, 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.

probes Follow up questions to get more detail from the interviewee.

procedural duties Operating audio equipment to get the program on air; one of the four P’s of effective announcing.

producer  Person who has primary responsibility for the content of the program.

production work performed by radio announcers when not on air such as recording commercials, voice tracking. One of the 4 P’s of effective announcing.

production studio Area in which a recorded performance takes place; not an on-air studio designed for live broadcasts. 

production value The investment in making a show complex and polished. A very simple show would probably have a low production value. 

profanity Irreverent use of the name of God; also, vulgar language. 

professional voice See performance voice.

profile shot Camera shot that frames the talent or performer from the side rather than straight on. 

program A scheduled radio, television, or cable show. 

program log Listing with times of all programs to be aired in a specific broadcast day. 

projection Proper way to “push” the sound out of your mouth. The volume of your voice not enhanced by a volume control.

promo Advertisement that promotes an individual program on a broadcast station. 

prompter See teleprompter. 

pronunciation How words are spoken. 

prop Property; refers to any item used during a television program, such as a telephone or wine bottle. 

prop room Part of the television facility in which props are stored. 

proximity effect Indicates the way in which some mics tend to emphasize the bass frequencies when one speaks very close to the mic. 

PSA See public service announcements. 

public domain Materials no longer protected by copyright are referred to as being in the public domain. 

public figures Readily recognized individuals, such as famous entertainers, sports stars, politicians, or community leaders. 

public service announcements PSAs; announcements for nonprofit organizations that are aired free of charge. 

Q & A session Question-and-answer session in which a performer or other noteworthy person is available to answer questions from the media. 

Qualification An introduction of a interviewee used to establish the guest’s credentials.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty A US government funded organization that reports news and information to Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East.

Radio–Television News Directors Association RTNDA; professional association for broadcast news directors (www.rtnda.org). 

Radio and Television Marti A US government funded organization that broadcasts news in Spanish to Cuba.

rapport Positive relationship with your audience. Audience is connected to you like a friend.  

rate Overall speed of speaking.

Rate variation Changing the speed of speaking to add interest and clarity to copy; reading some phrases faster or slower than others.  

ratings Statistical measurements of the size of the viewing or listening audience done by companies who specialize in this research; reported as a percentage of the number of people watching or listening to the station compared to the total possible number of listeners or viewers in the market. 

raw footage Video that has not been edited. 

raw sound Sound recorded on location. 

real time Actual elapsed time of a program. 

recording room Part of a television studio near the control room where a variety of machines are stored for to record and playback various programs and commercials used throughout the day.

redundant expression Use of words that mean the same thing to convey an idea, such as “true fact.” 

reporter Person responsible for investigating, writing, and often announcing the news.

Reporters San Frontiers International organization that keeps track of press freedoms worldwide including Internet censorship and new media.

resonance (resonate) Vibration of sound to produce a distinctive quality. 

resonators Parts of the body in which resonance develops; includes the sinus cavities, the chest,

the throat, and oral cavity. 

resume Summary of your education and work experience used in obtaining a job. 

Reuters International news organization located in London.

ribbon microphone Microphone that uses a thin metallic element, suspended between magnets, which vibrates in response to sound waves and converts them to electrical energy. 

riding gain Constant adjustment of volume levels during a program in response to variations in sound levels. 

rip and read Taking copy directly from a news wire and, without practice, announcing it on-air. 

robotics Refers to common practice of having a single person operate all the studio cameras through an automated system. 

roll Cue to begin operating, such as a camera or a program; also refers to moving the credits from the bottom to the top of the screen at the end of a show. 

rotating spots Commercials that are played in a pattern during various times and dayparts. 

routing Causing an audio and/or video signal to travel over particular wires to selected parts of the electronic system. 

RTNDA See Radio–Television News Directors Association. 

run-down sheet A timed listing of all that is to be done during a program. 

safe harbor Time when airing of “adult” programming is allowed; midnight to 6 a.m. 

SAG See Screen Actors Guild.

Screen Actors Guild Screen Actors Guild SAG; union for film actors and some broadcast performers (www.sag.org). 

segue Transition from one song to another in which one song ends and the next song begins with no silence between and no overlap of the songs. 

selecting Choosing which of the available audio and/or video signals will be sent forward in the electronic system. 

SFX Abbreviation used in a script for sound effects. 

shield laws Laws to protect sources of information for news reporters. 

shift Part of the workday the announcer is on-air; usually three- to four-hour block. 

shock jock Disc jockey who uses outlandish material to entertain the audience.

shot Television tern used to describe the picture. Often relates to number of people in the picture; four shot, three shot, two shot. A description of the whole set: cover or wide shot. A description of the amount of talent’s body that is visible; full, knee, hip, waist, chest, necktie, head, tight chest, face.

show runner A producer who moves onto the studio floor to more closely control the program. 

sibilance Over-articulation of the s sound that is heard in s, sh, and z. 

sideline reporting a reporter who roves the sidelines during games to add insights to game analysis.

signal processing Altering sound characteristics to make sound more to our liking, such as adding reverb, equalizing, and using noise reduction. 

signature A distinctive sound, musical phrase, or characteristic used to identify a person or station. 

simulcast A program broadcast on two or more stations at the same time; often a radio and television broadcast. 

sing-song A delivery style in which the speaker causes the voice to rise and fall in pitch in a predictable pattern. 

slander Oral defamation; spoken words that harm someone's reputation. 

slang Street language or words used by a specific social group. 

slate Information placed at beginning of video recording prior to the program to identify the director, program, and date. 

smooth jazz Radio format that blends easygoing popular music and lighter jazz vocals. Also known as New Adult Contemporary (NAC).

slug line Title for news copy placed at the top of the page; usually two or three words. 

soft news News that includes features and human interest stories; not immediate or fast breaking. The opposite of hard news. 

soft rock Radio format known today as adult contemporary that features current pop hits with oldies mixed in. 

soft-sell commercial A low-key approach to selling. 

solecism Words or phrases that are grammatically incorrect. 

SOT Sound on tape; abbreviation used in a television news script to indicate source of sound for a video clip that is on the recording. 

sound bite A recorded piece of audio and video of a news event; like a radio actuality. 

sounder Oral report of a news story. 

special assignment reporter News person who is assigned to cover special events as they occur. 

speech personality Style of speaking unique to each individual announcer. 

spin doctors People hired to present politicians and others in the best possible light. 

spokesperson commercial Commercial in which a well-known individual delivers the selling message; often a music or sports celebrity or the owner of the business. 

spoonerisms Speech mistake in which certain letters of words are transposed, causing a humorous effect, such as “tee many martoonies.” 

sportscaster Announcer who delivers sports news. 

spot Commercial. 

spot set Group of commercials. 

spotting board A device used by sportscasters to keep track of which players are in action. Usually also carries some basic facts about them. 

Standard American English Pronunciation of American English with little or no regional accent; the broadcast standard. 

stand by Cue given to talent just before a production begins. 

stand-up Part of an on-location news report when the reporter stands at the location and tells the story. 

station ID Announcement or visual indication of call letters and location of local station. 

station logo Symbol that identifies the station. 

status-conferral function Refers to giving extra importance to people or things that appear on radio, television, or cable. 

stereo Audio system that uses two channels, left and right. 

stinger The end of a commercial; usually a demand for action or the sponsor's name, location, and slogan. Also a musical note or two or sound effect that concludes a broadcast. 

straight-read commercial Announcer reads broadcast script only; words with no additional audio or video clips. studio Facility equipped for transmitting or recording a radio or television performance. 

stringer  News reporter not on the regular staff of a news organization.

studio cards See cue cards. 

substitution To replace a correct speech sound with an improper sound, such as “wabbit” for “rabbit.” 

sunshine laws Laws governing access to government information. 

super Special video effect in which a name or graphic is placed over the picture. 

sweep Usually refers to a period of time during which ratings are done. 

sweetening Correction of audio in postproduction. 

switcher Video device that chooses which video source will be seen on the air; also refers to person who operates this equipment; technical director. 

sympathetic vibration Vibrations produced in one body caused by vibrations in a nearby body. In performance, the vibrations of the vocal cords causing vibrations in the resonant cavities of the chest, head and throat which creates tone quality.

tag A sentence at the end of a commercial that usually indicates the address of the local client. 

take a level Check the VU meters for the proper audio level. 

take Television term for the instantaneous change from one camera to another. 

takes The number of times a performance is done in order to do it properly. 

talent An on-air broadcast performer. 

talking head Video picture that shows a person announcing who is seen from only the shoulders up; considered a boring shot because there is no movement. 

talk-up Announcing material over the instrumental beginning of a song; speaking right up to the point when the vocal part of the song starts. 

tally light Red light on camera to indicate if it is on-air. 

target audience The primary audience that the station wants as its viewers or listeners. 

transnational large companies or organizations that operate across national borders, such as many media organizations

transitions During an interview, moving from one subject to another. Can also be used to describes how the director changes from one picture to another: take, dissolve, fade, wipes and effects.

tease Announcement about an upcoming news story, usually with some interesting facts so that viewers will tune in to see the show. 

technical center Part of the television facility where all the electronic devices that support the rest of the studio are housed. 

technical director Person who operates the switcher. 

telegraphing a movement Indicating on-camera that you will move before you actually move. 

teleprompter device mounted on a camera that rolls the script on a television screen so the talent can read the script while looking directly at a camera. 

tempo Speed of speech. 

testimonial commercial A variation of the spokesperson commercial in which the person speaking on behalf of the product is doing so based on his or her actual use of the product. 

theater of the mind Imagination; radio broadcasters use music and sound effects to create images in the minds of the audience. 

thin voice A voice that lacks resonance; sounds weak and colorless. 

thoracic breathing less efficient way of breathing using your chest cavity rather than your abdomen to control your breath.

thoracic cavity The upper part of the body, the area enclosed by the chest. 

three-point lighting A common lighting pattern with a major (key) light and a minor (fill) light in front of a subject and a back light behind. 

throw away A delivery technique in which the speaker de-emphasizes the last word or two of a sentence, making it sound unimportant. 

tight board Ability to operate an audio board so that numerous program elements are played one after the other with no dead air. 

tight shot Television term for a close-up. 

timbre quality of sound made by the voice; also called tone quality.

time code Electronic identification of each frame of video that indicates hours, minutes, seconds, and frames; used for editing. 

time cues Hand signals that indicate to talent the amount of time remaining in a program. 

tone The quality of sound; also a steady tone on the audio board used to check levels. 

tone quality Quality of sound that is made, the timbre of the voice; affected by resonance. 

top 40 Radio format that is now referred to as contemporary hit radio (CHR). 

toss A program transition where one talent indicates to another to begin speaking. An anchor “tosses” to a field reporter. 

trachea The windpipe; tube in throat that directs the air from mouth to lungs. 

track One song on a record or CD. 

traffic department Responsible for scheduling and keeping track that all commercials have been played. 

transducer Device that converts one form of energy to another; for example, the microphone changes sound waves to electrical energy. 

trash television Local television programs that feature sex, violence, and other sensational topics; often used to boost ratings. 

tripod A three-legged stand that a television camera can be placed on. 

tweet A post made on the social media application Twitter.

UC See urban contemporary. 

unidirectional Microphone that picks up the sound in one direction only. 

United Press International UPI; former wire service that provided news and informational copy. 

uplink Term that indicates the ability of a broadcast station to send information to a satellite for distribution. 

urban contemporary Radio format that plays mostly music by black artists and other programming elements of interest to the black community. Urban AC is a sub-genre.

Vatican Radio The official broadcasting service of the Vatican (Catholic Church) which provides information  to audiences around the world.

Voice of America (VOA) A US government funded organization established in 1942 and today is the largest US international broadcaster

VCR Video cassette recorder; a type of videotape recorder that utilizes a plastic container that holds the videotape. 

verbal filler Annoying vocal habit, such as repeated use of “ya know” or “like.” 

video jockey VJ; announcer who introduces music videos. 

video news release (VNR) Public relations vehicle given to news organizations in hopes of getting a news story based on information provided. 

VJ See video jockey. 

vocal cords Vocal folds located in the larynx that vibrate when air passes over them to produce sound. 

vocal elements The techniques for making a voice interesting and effective, including inflection, emphasis, pausing, rate, and phrasing. 

vocal folds Another term for vocal cords. 

voice quality Characteristic of the voice usually affected by resonance. 

voice-over Narration placed over video; announcer is not seen. 

voicer Oral report of a news story. 

volume The loudness or softness of a voice or other sound. 

vowel Speech sounds of “a,” “e,” “i,” “o,” and “u.” 

VU meter Volume units meter; the indicators on an audio board that show audio levels. 

whiny voice An ineffective vocal style; speaks with too high, nasal pitch that elongates vowel sounds.

wild sound Sounds recorded in the field. 

windpipe Trachea. 

windscreen Covering over a microphone to eliminate unwanted noises. 

wipe Video special effect in which one picture “pushes” the other picture off the air, usually delineated by a hard line that moves across the screen. 

wire service Company that provides news and information from a central source to all subscribers or clients. 

wireless mic A microphone that sends its signal to the audio console by a small radio transmitter that is either worn or built into the microphone. 

working combo Describes a DJ who both announces and runs the board. 

worldwide clearly means reaching the entire world and is most commonly known as part of web address www.

wowing Distortion of sound in which pitch is varied, usually caused by irregular movement of an equipment part. 

wrap The end of a production. 

There are no terms for the letter X

There are no terms for the letter Y

zoom lens Variable focal-length lens that can be adjusted from wide angle to telephoto on the air without interruption.