More stupid editor tricks

[PCLoadLetter]

He sounds like a douche, and his insistence that people turn in their co-workers is a joke...

But the vast majority of the words on the banned list should never make their way into news copy.

What besides "alleged" would you suggest?

Sometimes it MUST be used in a crime/court story.

Not really, no. The man who police say killed Buckwheat" is better than "Buckwheat's alleged killer." NO ONE says "alleged" in everyday conversation. I'm not saying I never use it in copy, but I try to avoid it.

Keep in mind, these rules are for broadcast, not print. Print needs to be clear, but not necessarily conversational.

But if you get 30 seconds for a story, "alleged" takes a lot less time than "the man police say."

Not enough to go with "alleged." I generally prefer "accused" to "alleged," just to be more conversational.

The word gets abused like crazy, and doesn't provide nearly the legal protection people think it does. My biggest alleged peeve in copy: "Witnesses say the man allegedly pulled out a gun..." "Police say he allegedly shot his neighbor..." Ugh. No, they say he shot his neighbor.

Um, try Police allege he shot his neighbor.

Yes, except that no one outside of a news story ever uses the word "allege."

 

[WolvEagle]

We use "alleged" when not using "police said" at our paper. We're covering our legal rear ends.

Also, I agree with much of what the guy wrote on his list (though the "bingo card" concept is pure bs). That said, he's got waaaaay too much time on his hands.

 

[cyclingwriter]

Banned
"Eye Rack or Eye Ran"

so, the Flock of Seagulls is doomed at WGN?

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Sounds like this guy is a graduate of Lake Superior State University.

Nah, he's a dropout from the Sam Houston Institute of Technology.

And yeah, he has way too much time on his hands. Too bad someone didn't ask him how the company's financials are doing.

 

[I Should Coco]

Banned
"Eye Rack or Eye Ran"

so, the Flock of Seagulls is doomed at WGN?

heck, even "the Big 89" won't play music anymore!

My favorite from the list: In the wake of (unless it's a boating story)

 

[Gomer]

I suppose "fork you, San Diego" is kosher then.

 

[Starman]

"O, untimely death."

"Sit you down father; rest you."

 

[Killick]

Pedestrian? WTF?
There are a ton of phrases on that list that I agree with, but... egads.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Pedestrian? WTF?
There are a ton of phrases on that list that I agree with, but... egads.

Yeah, depends on context, I suppose.

Similarly, the one that drives me nuts -- and without looking it up, I don't remember it being on the list -- is "motorist." I hate that one. How is it Rodney King is forever known as a motorist just because he happened to be in a car before police beat the shirt out of him? I drive a car, but at no time does that make me a motorist.

 

[Clerk Typist]

So, no more plugs for the Tribune's "In the Wake of the News" on co-owned WGN?

 

[fishhack2009]

Pedestrian? WTF?
There are a ton of phrases on that list that I agree with, but... egads.

Yeah, depends on context, I suppose.

Similarly, the one that drives me nuts -- and without looking it up, I don't remember it being on the list -- is "motorist." I hate that one. How is it Rodney King is forever known as a motorist just because he happened to be in a car before police beat the shirt out of him? I drive a car, but at no time does that make me a motorist.

Not even when you're driving?

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Pedestrian? WTF?
There are a ton of phrases on that list that I agree with, but... egads.

Yeah, depends on context, I suppose.

Similarly, the one that drives me nuts -- and without looking it up, I don't remember it being on the list -- is "motorist." I hate that one. How is it Rodney King is forever known as a motorist just because he happened to be in a car before police beat the shirt out of him? I drive a car, but at no time does that make me a motorist.

Not even when you're driving?

No. When I'm driving I'm a guy who is driving. I'm not a "motorist."