We have just released a new version of IPTC NewsCodes, which includes many changes to Media Topics.

This is the first major update since August 2020 (although we released new versions in September and October 2020 to add translations of new terms).

The changes are detailed below:

New translations for Media Topics

After many requests, we have now added an “en-US” language version, based on a contribution by Jeff Brown of Fourth Estate. Thanks Jeff!

Mostly it simply changes British English words to US English, such as “centre”/”center” and “programme”/”program”, but there are a few more substantive changes around cinema / movies and changing “holiday” to “vacation”. Also where Jeff had suggested changes to definitions, we often changed them for both British and US English.

en-GB will still be the primary language for Media Topics, but we will keep the en-GB and en-US versions in sync as we make changes.

New Media Topics terms

These were suggested by our collaborators from Ritzau via iMatrics, NTB, TT and AFP. Thanks to all.

• animal abuse (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001314)
• border disputes (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001316)
• cheerleading (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001309)
• child care (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001317)
• disinformation and misinformation http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001319
• kickboxing (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001310)
• kiting (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001306) (which includes kitesurfing, kiteboarding, snowkiting and land kiting)
• krav maga (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001308)
• padel (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001305)
• pests (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001318)
• political leadership (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001312)
• sambo (martial art) (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001311)
• shootings (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001313)
• stand up paddleboarding (SUP) (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001307)
• sport achievement (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001301)
• sports award (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001304)
• sports medal (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001303)
• sports record (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001302)
• zoo (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001315)

Please note that the new terms only exist in en-GB and en-US right now, more translations will be added soon.

Update on 15 March: we have now added translations in Danish (thanks to Ritzau and iMatrics), Nowegian (thanks to NTB), Swedish (thanks to TT) and Portuguese for Brazil and Portugal (thanks to Priberam and Lusa).

Update on 12 April: We have now also added Chinese and German translations for these new and updated terms and definitions. Thanks very much to members Xinhua and dpa for their help!

Retired Media Topics terms

• sports facilities (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000559 (retired)) – use medtop:20001126 “sport venue” instead
• inline skating (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000967 (retired)) – use medtop:20001155 “roller sports” instead

Label changes to Media Topics 

Please note that we only ever make changes to labels to make the meaning clearer, we never change the meaning of a term.

• online media -> online media outlet http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000048
• traffic crime -> reckless driving (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001196)
• arbitration -> arbitration and mediation (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000117)
• prosecution -> prosecution and prosecutors (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000118)
• trade fair -> trade show or expo (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001136)
• online media -> online media industry (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000311)
• speciality store -> specialty store (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000253)
• motorbike enthusiasm -> motorcycle enthusiasm (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000571)
• parliament -> legislative body (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000615)
• synchronised swimming  -> artistic swimming (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001175) (as per IOC changes for 2020 Olympics)

Media Topics hierarchy moves

• dropped criminal investigation (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001200) moved to under investigation (criminal) (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000131)
• bodybuilding (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001240) moved to under competition discipline (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000822)

Definition changes in Media Topics

• Updates to correct British English in en-GB definitions: 20000004, 20001181, 20000041, 20000068, 20000094, 20001283, 20000175, 20000246, 20000458, 20001247, 20000608, 20001292, 20000719, 20000724, 20000804, 20001193, 20000807, 20000835, 20001157
• Fixes to typos and spelling mistakes in en-GB definitions: 20001187, 20000088, 20000263, 20000469, 20000711
• Tweaks to definitions to make the meaning clearer:
  • homicide (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000099)
  • prison (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000137)
  • civil law (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000122)
  • police (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000133)
  • real estate (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000241)
  • mining (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000320)
  • geriatric medicine (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000488)
  • leisure venue (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20000553)
  • speed skating (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001067)
  • sport venue (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/mediatopic/20001126)

Changes to other NewsCodes vocabularies

• http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/contentprodpartyrole/ – new terms Fact Checker (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/contentprodpartyrole/factChecker) and author (http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/contentprodpartyrole/author)
• http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/newsprovider/ – new terms http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/newsprovider/ACCESSWIRE and http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/newsprovider/NEWSDIRECT

As usual, the changes can be seen:

• Directly on the CV server at http://cv.iptc.org/
• In machine-readable form using SKOS, NewsML-G2 and NewsML 1 (see the cv.iptc.org guidelines for details)
• HTML tree view at https://www.iptc.org/std/NewsCodes/treeview/mediatopic/mediatopic-en-GB.html
• As an interactive diagram on http://show.newscodes.org/
• In Excel format from https://www.iptc.org/std/NewsCodes/IPTC-MediaTopic-NewsCodes.xlsx

Please let us know if you spot any problems. If you are an IPTC member you can post issues, questions and suggestions to the NewsCodes Working Group list at iptc-newscodes-dev@groups.io.