This is an example of a type of font commonly used in newspapers and other editorial, text-heavy publications. One of its features is ball terminals. I am wondering if there is a name for these types of editorial fonts (beyond "serifs," of course).

I wouldn’t say this points to a specific classification category. It’s just a feature of text typefaces that developed over time. The “old style” fonts didn’t have it yet …

download at MyFonts

After them came the “transitional” fonts with a tear-drop shape …

download at MyFonts

And actual ball terminals came with the “Didone” typefaces. 

download at MyFonts

 

Thanks, very helpful. I'm trying to narrow down my search for an editorial typeface (or combination of typefaces) that is similar to the sample at top. Searching for "editorial typeface"  or even "news typeface" has been of limited effectiveness.

Is this the kind of thing you are after ie Austin news by Commercial type?

https://commercialtype.com/catalog/austin_news

That is very much from the same era. The 'fat' and 'bold' faces are a bit too ... artistic/displayish ... but other than that, this is very close.

The 1983 LA Times "Rocket" example above is similar to today's LATimes.com, Boston Globe.com, and (sort of) NYTimes.com. You can really see the ball terminal and just the overall style it in the lowercase c.

You seem to look for fonts from the type classification style called “transitional”. 

For LA Times, check out Kis/Janson/Ehrhard.
For Boston Globe, check out Miller. 
And for the first example, plain old Times.