In the IELTS Speaking test, the IELTS examiners often ask you questions about the news, newspapers and magazines. To help you prepare better for this topic, the article will cover useful vocabulary, collocations, idioms, & common IELTS Speaking topics & questions about this topic with suggested answers.
Types of News, Newspapers, Magazines and Media Vocabulary
Online news: is the online version of a newspaper
A broadsheet: a newspaper printed on large sheets of paper
The daily: a newspaper published every day except Sunday
A tabloid: a newspaper with fairly small pages mostly containing stories about famous people and not much serious news
A weekly publication: a magazine, newspaper
A media outlet: a newspaper publishes news stories
biweekly a magazine that is published twice a month or twice a week
Bulletin a magazine or newspaper produced regularly by a club or organization to give information to its members
Compact a newspaper with fairly small pages that deals with serious news issues
Fanzine a magazine written for and by fans
Heavy (informal) a serious newspaper
Newspaper Content
- headlines = heading or title appearing at the top of a page or article
- columns = news that is printed in vertical columns rather than taking a whole page
- advice column = a column in the newspaper where advice is given to people who write in for it
- obituaries = a section in the newspaper about people who have recently died
- horoscope = a section in the newspaper about star signs and zodiac signs which foretell the future
- weather report = a section in the newspaper for weather forecasts
- business section = a section in the newspaper with business news
- international / world news section = a section in the newspaper which focuses on news from abroad
- caption = an explanation or title matching a picture or cartoon
- letter to the editor = a section in the newspaper for people to express their views to the editor of the newspaper
- special feature = a special story
- editorial = a news article containing the editor’s opinions
- comic strip = a cartoon series in the newspaper
Your Habits
Follow a story, peruse my favourite column; track the news; catch a news bulletin; subscribe to a publication
Types of News
local news; international news; world events; current affairs; business news; gossip; sensational news; the scandal received wide coverage in the press; libel; breaking news; make the headlines; objective reporting; cover a story; news coverage; analysis; the story went viral
The People Involved
paparazzi; unscrupulous reporters; a news anchor; a newscaster; a broadcaster; a columnist; a reporter; a journalist; a photojournalist
Phrases and idioms about the news
the gutter press: newspapers which focus on sensational journalism, often about the lives of famous people
yellow journalism: a type of journalism that presents little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye-catching headlines to sell more newspapers. Techniques may include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering or sensationalism.
information overload: exposure to too much information or data
invasion of privacy: unjustifiable intrusion into the personal life of another without consent.
a slow news day: a day with little news to report
Other Useful Vocabulary for Newspapers
- circulation = the number of copies a newspaper distributes on an average day (some newspapers have a wider circulation than others)
- layout = the way articles are designed on a page (this can include the position of pictures, the number of columns and the size of headlines)
- attention-grabbing = a news story which draws public attention
- eye-catching = a picture or layout which catches a person’s eye
- in-depth = with many details
- sensational news = news which causes public excitement or interest
- black and white = without colour
- paparazzi = a freelance photographer who follows celebrities
- front page = the first page of a newspaper
- fact-checkers = a person (people) who checks if the newspaper facts and information in an article are correct
- hot off the press = news that has just been printed and is very recent
- readership = the collective readers of a newspaper (some newspapers have a large readership)
- issue (n) = 1. an important topic for a debate 2. a copy of a newspaper
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