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Identifying commonly-known people

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by The Sundance Kid, Aug 23, 2007.

  1. Bob Slydell

    Bob Slydell Active Member

    I never assume people know who everyone is. So on first ref at least say Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel. After that, just call him Mr. Sweater Vest.
     
  2. forever_town

    forever_town Well-Known Member

    Head coach of what? The badmitton team? The bocce ball club?

    Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel.

    After that, Tressel. If you're fixin' for a libel suit and you work at a newspaper with heavy readership in Ann Arbor, feel free to call him douchebag on later refs. :p
     
  3. Sxysprtswrtr

    Sxysprtswrtr Active Member

    The artist formerly known as Prince
     
  4. Simon_Cowbell

    Simon_Cowbell Active Member

    Rickey Henderson's strike zone is as small as former German Furor Adolf Hitler's heart....
     
  5. Ace

    Ace Well-Known Member

    What's with all the furor over Hitler?
     
  6. BB Bobcat

    BB Bobcat Active Member

    The phrase "head coach" is one of my pet peeves. I prefer just "coach" and then "assistant coach," "linebackers coach," etc. etc. I think there are coaches and then assistants.

    Just like "basketball" and "women's basketball" but that's another thread :)
     
  7. cranberry

    cranberry Well-Known Member

    Depends on your publication and audience, of course. However, for practical purposes, I think you answer the question for yourself in the thread title. If the figure is "commonly known" it isn't typically necessary. I consistently edit stuff like "New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter" in ledes to shorten them. Sometimes I like to drop it in an attribution later in the story: "..," the Yankees' shortstop said.
     
  8. Football_Bat

    Football_Bat Well-Known Member

    He was OK at first, but then he went too far. :p
     
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