More stupid editor tricks

[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 **** 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 **** 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 **** 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."

 

[cjericho]

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 maybe they didn't actually say it. they could've arrested him based on evidence but not actually said 'he is the one who killed."

 

[Huggy]

White stuff

?

Huh, what?

Related to snow, I suspect.

 

[Liut]

Michaels has been gutting his beloved industry for years.

 

[Brooklyn Bridge]

Michaels has been gutting his beloved industry for years.

Michaels used to run Clear Channel, which is akin to JRC, or CNHI or whatever evil newspaper company there is. The list itself I kind of agree with, but as a boss, I wouldn't report any employee who said it I would be more like "dude this is from Broadcasting 101. Don't say it."

 

[Liut]

Michaels has been gutting his beloved industry for years.

Michaels used to run Clear Channel, which is akin to JRC, or CNHI or whatever evil newspaper company there is. The list itself I kind of agree with, but as a boss, I wouldn't report any employee who said it I would be more like "dude this is from Broadcasting 101. Don't say it."

Did a commendable job of re-inventing WLW. Loved Trumpy's show. However, he went corporate and became a slash-and-burner. Never worked for him; don't think I'd want to.

 

[andyouare?]

White stuff

?

Huh, what?

Related to snow, I suspect.

That makes sense. As a native Floridian, my mind wandered...

 

[fossywriter8]

So WGN broadcasters can't use "All of you", "Some of you", "Those of you" or "You folks" now? Guess they'll have to use the all-encompassing "ya'll."