journalism
UK[ˈdʒɜːnəlɪzəm]US[ˈdʒɜːrnəlɪzəm]
n
The work of collecting, writing, and publishing news and articles in newspapers and magazines or broadcasting them on television and radio.
n
The product of this work; news and articles as a whole.
Morpheme Breakdown
journal
ism
journal
ism
Etymology
The word 'journalism' narrates the professionalization of daily record-keeping. Its core, 'journal', descends from the Latin diurnalis (of the day), which entered English via French to denote a daily diary or newspaper. The suffix '-ism', of Greek origin via Latin, systematically transforms this concept of a daily record into the collective practice, principles, and profession of producing and disseminating current news. Thus, the term's logic evolves from the literal "daily" to the abstract system of "daily news production," encapsulating the field's foundational link to periodicity and public information.
Analysis
Structure: journal + ism
- journal: From Latin diurnalis (daily), via Old French jurnal. In this word, it functions as the base noun meaning a daily record or publication.
- ism: From Greek -ismos, a suffix forming nouns of action, practice, or system. In this word, it denotes the profession, practice, or system associated with the base noun.
Examples
She pursued a career in journalism to report on international affairs.
Digital technology has dramatically transformed modern journalism.
Ethical journalism requires accuracy, fairness, and accountability.