More stupid editor tricks

You would have to wonder if "putz" and "imbecile" are on this list.

http://blogs.vocalo.org/feder/2010/03/memo-puts-wgn-news-staffers-at-a-loss-for-words/17374

 

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.

 

I can think of a hunnert reasons why you're wrong, PC...

 

What besides "alleged" would you suggest?

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

 

And, if you don't use "gunman (or lone gunman)" what do you say?

The man with a gun? Or the only man with a gun? Or the solitary man with a gun?

I need to stop reading this list; it's pissing me off.

 

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

 

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.

 

Gunman is one of the few I have no problem with.

 

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

 

?

Huh, what?

 

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.

Or, witnesses allege he pulled a gun.