electronic journalism
C2Formal, Technical, Academic
Definition
Meaning
The reporting and dissemination of news through electronic media, particularly radio and television, as opposed to print media.
A form of journalism where news content is primarily produced for and distributed via electronic broadcast channels (television, radio) or digital platforms (websites, podcasts, apps). It emphasizes immediacy, audiovisual presentation, and often shorter, more condensed reporting than traditional print journalism.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
While historically contrasted with 'print journalism,' the term's modern usage often encompasses digital and online news formats. It is a hypernym for 'broadcast journalism,' which specifically refers to radio and television. The distinction between 'electronic' and 'digital' journalism is becoming increasingly blurred.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Both varieties use the term identically.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term can carry a slightly dated or academic connotation, often referring to the 20th-century shift from print to broadcast media. In contemporary discourse, terms like 'broadcast journalism' or 'digital journalism' are often more precise.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday conversation in both regions. Higher frequency in academic, media studies, and professional journalism contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[electronic journalism] + verb (revolutionized, emerged, dominates)the advent/rise/impact of [electronic journalism]study/practice/teach [electronic journalism]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this compound term.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in media business analysis to discuss market shifts and advertising revenue models.
Academic
Common in media studies, communication, and journalism history courses.
Everyday
Rarely used in casual conversation; more common to say 'TV news' or 'radio news'.
Technical
Used in journalism textbooks and professional discourse to categorize a media genre.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The programme aimed to electronic-journalism the event, but technical faults prevented a live feed. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- They sought to electronic-journalism the convention, focusing on live commentary. (rare, non-standard)
adverb
British English
- The story was covered electronically-journalisted, with a heavy reliance on satellite links. (highly contrived, virtually unused)
American English
- He reports electronically-journalisted, preferring the immediacy of live TV. (highly contrived, virtually unused)
adjective
British English
- The electronic-journalism module is a core part of the media degree.
American English
- She has an electronic-journalism background from her years at the network.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We watch the news on television. That is electronic journalism.
- Electronic journalism, like TV news, is faster than reading a newspaper.
- The university offers a course comparing traditional print media with modern electronic journalism.
- The ascendance of electronic journalism in the mid-20th century fundamentally altered the public's consumption of current affairs, privileging immediacy and visual narrative.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an 'ELECTRON' (part of an atom, related to electricity) inside a TV or radio, bringing you the 'JOURNAL' (like a newspaper) of the day. Electronic journalism = news delivered by electric signals.
Conceptual Metaphor
NEWS IS A SIGNAL/TRANSMISSION (e.g., 'the news was broadcast,' 'airing a report').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'электронная журналистика' as it sounds unnatural. Use 'телевизионная и радиожурналистика' (TV and radio journalism) or 'вещательная журналистика' (broadcast journalism).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a synonym for *all* online journalism (which is better termed 'digital journalism'). Confusing it with 'electronic news gathering' (ENG), which refers to the production technology, not the journalism genre itself.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key characteristic typically associated with electronic journalism?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Electronic journalism' is a broader, older term that primarily encompasses broadcast media like TV and radio. 'Online journalism' or 'digital journalism' specifically refers to news produced for the internet. However, in modern usage, the lines are often blurred.
The core difference is the medium of delivery and presentation. Print journalism relies on text and static images in physical publications, allowing for depth and reader-paced consumption. Electronic journalism uses audiovisual elements (sound, moving images) delivered via broadcast or digital signals, emphasizing immediacy, brevity, and sensory engagement.
Electronic journalism rose to prominence in the mid-20th century with the widespread adoption of radio in the 1920s-1940s and television in the 1950s-1960s. It became the primary news source for many people by the latter half of the century.
Yes, in its extended sense. While historically tied to broadcast, the term can apply to audio journalism distributed via digital electronic means (podcasts, streaming). However, 'audio journalism' or 'digital audio journalism' are often more precise terms for podcasting.