journalism

IPA/ˈdʒɜːnəlɪzəm/
KK[dʒˈɚnəlˌɪzəm]IPA/ˈdʒɜːrnəlɪzəm/

journalism — noun

1. the profession of gathering facts, creating news reports, and presenting them to

1.nounB1
Definition

the profession of gathering facts, creating news reports, and presenting them to the public through print, broadcast, or digital platforms.

Example

Renata decided to pursue a career in journalism after working for the school newspaper.

collocation: pursue a career in journalism

Advances in digital technology have transformed journalism over the past twenty years.

Common collocations
  • investigative journalism
  • citizen journalism
  • journalism school
  • a career in journalism
  • study journalism
Synonyms
  • reporting

    focuses on the act of gathering and presenting news, narrower than journalism

  • the press

    refers to news media organisations collectively, not the activity itself

  • news reporting

    emphasises the factual coverage of current events

Usage Note

This sense is uncountable — you say 'a career in journalism,' not 'a journalism.' To refer to a person, use 'journalist.'

Common Mistakes

She works in a journalism.
She works in journalism.
journalism is uncountable and does not take an article.
He studied a journalism at university.
He studied journalism at university.
no article needed before uncountable nouns.

2. the newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and online news organisations cons

2.nounB2
Definition

the newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and online news organisations considered as a whole; the public press as an industry or institution.

Example

The scandal was widely covered in the journalism of many countries around the world.

The rise of online journalism has changed how people get their daily news.

collocation: online journalism

Common collocations
  • online journalism
  • international journalism
  • investigative journalism
  • mainstream journalism
Synonyms
  • the press

    more traditional term for news organisations, especially print media

  • the media

    broader term that includes entertainment and advertising, not just news

  • news media

    more specific to news-focused outlets, closest in meaning

Usage Note

This sense treats journalism as a collective institution — like 'the media' or 'the press.' When referring to a specific newspaper or TV station, use 'news outlet' or 'media organisation,' not 'journalism.'

Common Mistakes

I read the journalism this morning.
I read the newspaper / the news this morning.
journalism as a collective noun does not refer to a single publication you read in the morning.
The journalism is biased on this topic.
The media are biased on this topic.
use 'the media' or 'the press' to criticise coverage; 'journalism' sounds oddly abstract.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While 'journalism' is the broadest term covering the entire profession of gathering and presenting news, 'reporting' focuses more narrowly on the act of collecting facts and writing stories — a reporter in the field is 'doing reporting,' not 'doing journalism' in everyday speech. 'The press' historically referred to print newspapers but now functions as a collective noun for all news organisations; it emphasises the institutional side (e.g., 'freedom of the press') rather than the craft. In practice: 'She works in journalism' describes her profession broadly; 'Her reporting on the flood was outstanding' praises her specific coverage; 'the press is covering the story' refers to news outlets as a group.

reporting ↗the press ↗journalism ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • journalism school
  • journalism award
  • journalism graduate
  • journalism ethics
  • journalism professor

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a career in journalism
  • enter journalism
  • leave journalism

Prepositions

  • in journalism
  • into journalism

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'journalism' comes from French 'journal' (daily newspaper), which traces back to Latin 'diurnalis' (daily). The suffix '-ism' was added in the 1800s to name the profession and practice of producing news publications.