journalist
JUR-nuh-list
/ˈdʒɜːrnəlɪst/
A person who writes for newspapers, magazines, or news websites or prepares news to be broadcast on radio or television.
Implies a professional role focused on reporting facts, investigating stories, and adhering to journalistic ethics, often for a broad public audience.
The story behind the word. The word 'journalist' traces its roots back to the Latin word 'diurnalis', meaning 'daily'. This gave rise to 'journal', which originally meant a daily record or newspaper. By the 17th century, a 'journal' referred to a daily publication, and by the late 18th century, a 'journalist' was someone who wrote for these daily papers, reporting on events of the day.
Word relationships
- reporter: Often implies someone who gathers and reports news, sometimes more focused on immediate events than in-depth analysis.
- correspondent: A reporter who sends news from a distant place.
- propagandist: Someone who spreads information, often biased or misleading, to promote a political cause or point of view.
- fiction writer: Someone who creates imaginative stories, not necessarily based on facts.
Commonly confused with
- blogger: While a blogger can be a journalist, 'blogger' typically refers to someone who writes for a personal blog, often with a more subjective or niche focus, whereas 'journalist' implies adherence to traditional news reporting standards.
Word family
- journalism (n): The activity or profession of writing for newspapers, magazines, or news websites or preparing news to be broadcast.
- journalistic (adj): Relating to journalism or journalists.
Collocations
- investigative journalist
- freelance journalist
- broadcast journalist
- war journalist
- sports journalist
Example sentences
- "The investigative journalist spent months uncovering the truth behind the scandal." Describing a profession.
- "As a foreign correspondent, she traveled to war zones to report firsthand accounts, embodying the spirit of a true journalist." Referring to a specific individual.
- "A good journalist strives for objectivity and accuracy in their reporting." A general statement about the role.
Memory hook
Think of a 'JOURNAL' (like a diary or newspaper) and the 'IST' who writes in it or for it. Journal writer
When not to use
Do not use 'journalist' for someone who primarily creates promotional content, fiction, or personal diaries.
Fun facts
- The first known use of 'journalist' in English was in 1700.
Related words
Explore more words
journalism, broadsheet, photojournalism, columnist, investigative, exposé
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