Last chance to save on Digiday Publishing Summit passes is February 9
This article appears in the latest issue of Digiday magazine, a quarterly publication that is part of Digiday+. Members of Digiday+ get access to exclusive content, original research and member events throughout the year. Learn more here.
Meaningless jargon and lazy buzzwords have plagued the media and marketing industries for decades, and the problem only seems to be getting worse. With that in mind, we’re releasing the third edition of the Digiday Dictionary. Whether you’re trying to baffle someone into buying something they don’t need, decipher something your vendor told you, or simply cover up for having no idea what you’re talking about*, this guide will have you covered. (*Actual results may vary)
Ad exchange: Cheap ad space
Ads.txt: List of people we think we can trust
Agency of record: Scapegoat
Brand newsroom: Marketers with journalism degrees
Brand safety: Screenshots
Branded content: Native advertising that’s more expensive
Consent management platform: Something we say we use so we don’t get fined
Consultancies: Agencies with suits
Consumers: People
Data: Email addresses
Digital agency: Website sweatshop
Display: Banners
Engagement: Likes
Facebook Watch: Animal videos
GDPR: We’ve updated our privacy policy
In-house: Dedicated agency group
Long-form: 15 minutes, tops
Native advertising: Branded content
Pivot: Desperation
Podcast ad measurement: Discount codes
Premium video: Netflix
Privacy: An illusion
Publisher commerce: Amazon links
Social agency: Tweet sweatshop
Sponsored content: Text ad
Subscriptions: Last resort
Transparency: Insertion orders
Video audience measurement: A tax a publisher pays to take meetings with TV ad buyers
View views: Autoplay
Viewability: Bigger ads
More in Media
Media Briefing: A solid Q4 gives publishers breathing room as they build revenue beyond search
Q4 gave publishers a win — but as ad dollars return, AI-driven discovery shifts mean growth in 2026 will hinge on relevance, not reach.
Bloomberg’s new video hub aims to keep audiences – and subscribers – on its own turf
Bloomberg launched a centralized video hub to improve discovery, boost engagement and keep audiences (and subscribers) on its own platform.
The Rundown: What YouTube creators should expect to change in 2026
YouTube has big changes slated for 2026 across AI content, Shorts, YouTube TV, and more – what does it all mean for creators?