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Front Page Article In The Washington Post, Now With Unedited Cursing!

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Flying Headbutt, Sep 21, 2011.

  1. Flying Headbutt

    Flying Headbutt Moderator Staff Member

    Words I've never seen printed in a newspaper before, though they're quotes made in a public hearing by elected officials. But I side with the argument that it strengthens the story, even if it's not completely necessary. Good on the Post for printing them.

    It's about halfway down, in this story...

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/contentious-dc-council-meeting-exposes-tensions/2011/09/19/gIQACyEQjK_print.html
     
    Flying Headbutt, Sep 21, 2011
    #1
  2. Flying Headbutt

    Flying Headbutt Moderator Staff Member

    In the printed edition, the curse words were after the jump.
     
    Flying Headbutt, Sep 21, 2011
    #2
  3. deskslave

    deskslave Active Member

    Happens in British newspapers all the time. I've never understood why American newspapers act like they're going to be fined by the FCC.
     
    deskslave, Sep 21, 2011
    #3
  4. slappy4428

    slappy4428 Active Member

    At the big-city paper in town, words like "Sucks", "Crap" or derivatives there in are forbidden, lest people find them offensive -- even in quotes.
     
    slappy4428, Sep 21, 2011
    #4
  5. crusoes

    crusoes Active Member

    We ran "f-----" in a kid's quote and people went nuts. Except the coaches, who admitted they had said the same thing and the kid was repeating what they said. We didn't run the word, just the f and the dashes. The kid was mortified. The coaches told him to forget about it.
     
    crusoes, Sep 21, 2011
    #5
  6. BillyT

    BillyT Active Member

    They're being classy.
     
    BillyT, Sep 21, 2011
    #6
  7. Double Down

    Double Down Well-Known Member

    When Cheney told Patrick Leahy "Go fuck yourself" on the Senate floor, the Post printed the exact quote, although it ran on A4, no A1.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3699-2004Jun24.html
     
    Double Down, Sep 21, 2011
    #7
  8. Raiders

    Raiders Guest

    Ron Jaworski now has the Post on speed-dial.
     
    Raiders, Sep 21, 2011
    #8
  9. JR

    JR Well-Known Member

    The Toronto Star and the Globe & Mail print "fuck" from quotes regularly.

    Lord, it's 2011, not 1975.
     
    JR, Sep 21, 2011
    #9
  10. Starman

    Starman Well-Known Member

    Well, that sucks.
     
    Starman, Sep 21, 2011
    #10
  11. Matt1735

    Matt1735 Well-Known Member

    Cut that crap out.
     
    Matt1735, Sep 21, 2011
    #11
  12. Versatile

    Versatile Active Member

    I've long been a lobbyist at my current (top-20 circulation) paper to change our policy and allow these words -- even fuck -- in quotes. The good people above me are hellbent on producing a "family" newspaper. "Sucks" and "crap" are not allowed.

    I'm not sure there's a kid in the country reading newspapers.
     
    Versatile, Sep 22, 2011
    #12
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