What does newsman mean?
A newsman is someone who gathers, writes, or presents news for a newspaper, news agency, radio station, or television network. Historically, the word was a straightforward designation for a person employed in journalism, and it could be used in both the United States and Britain. Today, however, journalist and reporter are more common and more inclusive alternatives, while newsman can sound old-fashioned or distinctly masculine because of its ending. The term still appears naturally in descriptions of veteran reporters, local correspondents, and earlier broadcasting or newspaper eras, especially when the historical tone is intentional. It is a useful word for discussing the history of journalism and for identifying a person whose profession is centered on reporting news rather than editing, producing, or simply presenting a prepared broadcast.
nounA journalist or reporter who gathers, writes, or presents news, especially for a newspaper, news agency, radio, or television. The term is now less common than the more neutral word journalist.
- A person who gathers, writes, reports, or presents news; especially a newspaper, radio, or television journalist.
"The newsman interviewed residents after the storm."
"A respected newsman covered local politics for many years."
"The television newsman delivered a special report from the disaster zone."
The irregular plural changes both the ending and the pronunciation of the final syllable: newsmen.
"Several newsmen gathered outside the courthouse."
The word once simply meant a person who brought the news; today, its use often reveals a bygone style of naming a profession.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does newsman come from?
The word is an English compound formed from news and man. Its development belongs to the early modern period when the practice of regularly distributing printed reports was becoming established. The compound was later extended in parallel forms such as newswoman, while the broader family of news, newscast, and newsroom reflects the same central element. The modern use of newsman has narrowed somewhat as gender-neutral occupational terms have become more common.
Related word forms
How newsman is actually used
The term is still understood in British and American English but sounds somewhat old-fashioned or formal compared with journalist and reporter. Because it uses the generic masculine noun man, newsman is often treated as a masculine label, although its historical usage was not necessarily intended to exclude women. In contemporary writing, journalist or reporter is usually preferred when gender-neutral language is appropriate.
Easily confused with newsman
A newsman may report news from the field, while a news anchor typically presents news from a studio and introduces broadcasts.