Chapter 2 Vocab

12 cards·by Ana Vazquez

composite characters

Fictional characters a news writer creates by using characteristics of several real people. This practice is frowned upon by ethical journal

credibility

The ability to inspire belief and trust

libel

Written defamation; damaging false statements against another person or institution that appear in writing or that are spoken (broadcast) fr

Prior restraint

Censorship or restraint in advance of publication. This is illegal in the United States except in the rarest of circumstances, usually perta

Objectivity

The ability to make fair, neutral observations about people and events.

Right to reply

The opportunity for permitting a person criticized in a story to respond to that criticism in the same story

plagiarism

The taking and using as one’s own the writings or inventions of another person

slander

A damaging false statement against another person or institution spoken or broadcast extemporaneously

Privileged statements

Statements made on the floor of Congress, in the state legislature, or in a courtroom that, if published, are immune from libel suits

Fair comment

A libel defense that protects a journalist’s expressed opinion of public figures or reviews of books, records, and the like

In loco parentis

The legal idea that school authorities act “in place of the parent” and assume a parent’s rights, duties, and responsibilities. This concept

Forum theory

The idea that once a forum (or place where ideas are exchanged) is created, the ideas expressed there cannot later be controlled