Media & Communication vocabulary for IELTS Speaking
- 15 words
- Band 6 to 9
- Every word and sentence read aloud
Study all 15 words
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advertising
/ˈædvətaɪzɪŋ/nounB2
The activity of promoting products or services to the public.
Lights designed to catch your eye: advertising promotes products to the public.
Remember it: Advertising comes from Latin roots meaning “turn toward,” as adverts turn people’s attention toward products.
- “Online advertising has overtaken print.”
- “Children are heavily influenced by advertising.”
Similar: promotion, marketing, publicity
A Band 6 word. Try it in a phrase: “an advertising campaign”.
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Media & Communication
15 words
Media & Communication
15 words
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15 words
Band 6advertisingˈædvətaɪzɪŋnounThe activity of promoting products or services to the public.
Lights designed to catch your eye: advertising promotes products to the public. The activity of promoting products or services to the public.
Online advertising has overtaken print.
Children are heavily influenced by advertising.
Remember it
Advertising comes from Latin roots meaning “turn toward,” as adverts turn people’s attention toward products.
Watch out
an advertisingan advertisementUse 'advertisement' for one advert; 'advertising' is usually uncountable.
Goes with
Words that go with advertising: online advertising; targeted advertising; advertising campaign; an advertising campaign. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- promotionmarketingpublicity
Word family
The advertising family: advertising (noun), advertise (verb), advertisement (noun), advertiser (noun). 
Band 6broadcastˈbrɔːdkɑːstverbTo transmit a programme or information by radio, television, or online.
One tower reaching every home: to broadcast is to send a programme out widely. To transmit a programme or information by radio, television, or online.
The match was broadcast live around the world.
The station broadcasts in three languages.
Remember it
Broadcast combines “broad” and “cast,” suggesting information thrown widely to many people.
Watch out
broadcasted the programmebroadcast the programmeBroadcast has the same form in the past tense in standard British English.
Goes with
Words that go with broadcast: broadcast live; broadcast a programme; broadcast to millions; broadcast live. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- transmitairtelevise
Word family
The broadcast family: broadcast (verb), broadcaster (noun), broadcasting (noun). 
Band 6coverageˈkʌvərɪdʒnounThe reporting of an event or subject by the press, television, or online.
Every camera on one podium: coverage is how the news reports an event. The reporting of an event or subject by the press, television, or online.
The election received wall-to-wall coverage.
Media coverage shaped public opinion.
Watch out
many coverages of the eventextensive coverage of the eventCoverage is usually uncountable in this meaning.
Goes with
Words that go with coverage: media coverage; news coverage; extensive coverage; live coverage; blanket coverage. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- reportingreportage
- Opposite
- blackout
Word family
The coverage family: coverage (noun), cover (verb, noun). 
Band 7biasˈbaɪəsnounA tendency to favour or oppose something unfairly, affecting judgement.
Two equal apples, yet the scale tips one way: bias is a tilt in judgement that unfairly favours one side. A tendency to favour or oppose something unfairly, affecting judgement.
Readers accused the paper of political bias.
Good journalism should be free of bias.
Remember it
Bias originally meant a slant or oblique direction, suggesting an unfair tilt in judgement.
Watch out
biasnessbiasThe noun is 'bias', not 'biasness'.
Goes with
Words that go with bias: media bias; political bias; show bias; unconscious bias; free from bias. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- prejudicepartialityslant
- Opposite
- impartialityobjectivityneutrality
Word family
The bias family: bias (noun), biased (adjective), unbiased (adjective). 
Band 7influentialˌɪnfluˈenʃladjectiveHaving a great effect on someone or something.
One stone, ripples everywhere: influential means having a big effect on others. Having a great effect on someone or something.
She is one of the most influential voices in journalism.
The report was highly influential in shaping policy.
Remember it
Influential comes from Latin roots meaning “flow into,” suggesting an effect flowing into someone’s thinking or actions.
Watch out
influential toinfluential in/onUse 'influential in' an area or 'influential on' someone.
Goes with
Words that go with influential: highly influential; influential figure; influential role; an influential voice. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- powerfulimportantauthoritative
- Opposite
- insignificantpowerless
Word family
The influential family: influential (adjective), influence (noun, verb). 
Band 7viralˈvaɪrəladjective(Of content) spreading very quickly and widely online.
One push, then it spreads in every direction: viral content spreads fast online. (Of content) spreading very quickly and widely online.
The clip went viral overnight.
Brands dream of creating viral content.
Watch out
a virala viral post/videoViral is normally an adjective, not a noun for online content.
Goes with
Words that go with viral: go viral; viral video; viral content; go viral. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- widely sharedtrending
- Opposite
- unnoticed
Word family
The viral family: viral (adjective), virus (noun). 
Band 8censorshipˈsensəʃɪpnounThe suppression or control of information considered unacceptable.
Lines blacked out: censorship is hiding or controlling information. The suppression or control of information considered unacceptable.
The regime imposed strict censorship on the press.
Online censorship is a growing concern.
Watch out
censorship informationcensorship of informationUse 'of' before the thing being censored.
Goes with
Words that go with censorship: media censorship; strict censorship; impose censorship; internet censorship; freedom from censorship. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- suppressionrestrictioncontrol
- Opposite
- freedom of speechopenness
Word family
The censorship family: censorship (noun), censor (verb, noun), censored (adjective). 
Band 8credibleˈkredəbladjectiveAble to be believed; convincing and trustworthy.
Trusted reference books: credible means believable and trustworthy. Able to be believed; convincing and trustworthy.
Always check that a source is credible.
She gave a credible account of events.
Remember it
Credible comes from Latin credere, meaning “to believe.”
Watch out
credablecredibleThe correct spelling contains 'ible'.
Goes with
Words that go with credible: credible source; credible evidence; highly credible; a credible source. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- believabletrustworthyreliable
- Opposite
- implausibleunreliabledubious
Word family
The credible family: credible (adjective), credibility (noun), credibly (adverb). 
Band 8misinformationˌmɪsɪnfəˈmeɪʃnnounFalse or inaccurate information, especially that spread unintentionally.
Signs pointing the wrong way: misinformation is false information that misleads people. False or inaccurate information, especially that spread unintentionally.
Social media can spread misinformation rapidly.
The campaign aims to combat misinformation.
Watch out
a misinformationmisinformationIt is normally uncountable.
Goes with
Words that go with misinformation: spread misinformation; combat misinformation; online misinformation; a wave of misinformation. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- falsehooddisinformationfake news
- Opposite
- accurate informationfacts
Word family
The misinformation family: misinformation (noun), misinform (verb), misinformed (adjective). 
Band 8take at face valueteɪk ət ˌfeɪs ˈvæljuːidiomTo accept something as it appears, without questioning it.
Perfect outside, rotten inside: to take something at face value is to accept it without looking deeper. To accept something as it appears, without questioning it.
Don't take everything you read at face value.
She took his promise at face value.
Watch out
take it on face valuetake it at face valueThe fixed preposition is 'at'.
Goes with
Words that go with take at face value: take at face value; accept at face value; at face value. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- accept as truetake literally
- Opposite
- questionbe sceptical of
Band 8take with a pinch of saltteɪk wɪð ə ˌpɪntʃ əv ˈsɔːltidiomTo regard information as likely to be exaggerated or untrue.
Add a pinch of salt: take a story with a pinch of salt when it may not be fully true. To regard information as likely to be exaggerated or untrue.
Take online reviews with a pinch of salt.
I'd take that statistic with a pinch of salt.
Goes with
Words that go with take with a pinch of salt: take something with a pinch of salt; with a pinch of salt. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- be sceptical ofdoubt
- Opposite
- take at face value
Band 8transparencytrænsˈpærənsinounOpenness and honesty, so that actions and information can be easily seen and understood.
Glass you can see right through: transparency means openness, nothing hidden. Openness and honesty, so that actions and information can be easily seen and understood.
Voters are demanding greater transparency.
The company promised full transparency about its data use.
Remember it
Transparency suggests being clear enough to see through, like transparent glass.
Goes with
Words that go with transparency: greater transparency; financial transparency; lack of transparency; a culture of transparency. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- opennessaccountabilitycandour
- Opposite
- secrecyconcealment
Word family
The transparency family: transparency (noun), transparent (adjective), transparently (adverb). 
Band 9disseminatedɪˈsemɪneɪtverbTo spread information or knowledge widely.
Seeds carried far and wide: to disseminate information is to spread it widely. To spread information or knowledge widely.
Universities disseminate research through journals and conferences.
The internet allows ideas to be disseminated instantly.
Remember it
From Latin semen, “seed,” disseminate means scattering ideas like seeds widely.
Watch out
disseminate informationsdisseminate informationInformation is uncountable.
Goes with
Words that go with disseminate: disseminate information; disseminate knowledge; disseminate findings; widely disseminated. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- distributecirculatebroadcastspread
- Opposite
- suppresswithhold
Word family
The disseminate family: disseminate (verb), dissemination (noun). 
Band 9scrutinyˈskruːtəninounCritical observation or examination.
Every detail examined under the glass: scrutiny is close, critical examination. Critical observation or examination.
Public figures are under constant media scrutiny.
The claims did not stand up to scrutiny.
Remember it
Scrutiny comes from Latin roots meaning “search” or “examine closely.”
Watch out
under close scrutiniesunder close scrutinyScrutiny is usually uncountable.
Goes with
Words that go with scrutiny: public scrutiny; under scrutiny; close scrutiny; come under scrutiny; stand up to scrutiny. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- examinationinspectionclose examination
- Opposite
- neglectdisregard
Word family
The scrutiny family: scrutiny (noun), scrutinise (verb). 
Band 9sensationalismsenˈseɪʃənəlɪzəmnounThe presentation of stories in a way designed to provoke excitement at the expense of accuracy.
A megaphone for a teacup: sensationalism makes a small story loud and exciting at the cost of the truth. The presentation of stories in a way designed to provoke excitement at the expense of accuracy.
Tabloid sensationalism distorts serious issues.
The channel was criticised for sensationalism.
Watch out
sensationalism newssensationalist newsUse 'sensationalist' to describe media or reporting.
Goes with
Words that go with sensationalism: media sensationalism; tabloid sensationalism; resort to sensationalism. Similar and opposite
- Similar
- scaremongeringhype
- Opposite
- restraintsober reporting
Word family
The sensationalism family: sensationalism (noun), sensationalist (adjective), sensational (adjective), sensationalise (verb).