A Chicago radio station’s controversial memobanning broadcast newsspeak reflects the scramble now under way in the traditional media world as bloggers, Facebook, Twitter and other new information sources emerge.The list of 119 words and phrases now banned at WGN 720-AM range from the sensational, like “lone gunman,” “killing spree” and “clash with police,” to basic poor English, like “5 a.m. in the morning” and “at this point in time” (see the whole list on the right).
Getting these words out of newscasts will improve the delivery of news by making it more about information and less about theatrics. More importantly, it will remove the impression that the broadcast news industry thinks it’s so special that it needs to preserve its own special, stilted, silly language.
It’s a new world now
Although it’s become borderline-cliche to observe this, the traditional media have a new role now. They’re not the only sources of information anymore.
Sometimes they’re slower and less complete than blogs that cover the same events and issues. Sometimes their stories are not as interesting or relevant as content posted on Facebook.
This doesn’t mean traditional media are toast. We still rely on them for news that’s completely accurate, fair and objective, which far transcends our expectations of Twitter or YouTube.
That’s why getting rid of newsspeak is a good thing.
Phrases like “senseless murder” and “fled on foot” make intelligent listeners roll their eyes. As a language constructed to convey superiority, almost like the guy who prays with “thee” and “thou,” it’s a drag on objectivity. (See National Public Radio’s amusing mock newsread that uses all of the silly phrases.)
Resisting change
The Chicago list, developed by Tribune Co. CEO Randy Michaels and issued by WGN news director Charlie Meyerson, was big news in the media world last week, but for the wrong reasons.
Because the memo also asked WGN employees to snitch on anyone who disobeyed the order, it got panned as micromanagement.
Whenever there’s change, there’s resistance, and the entrenched will grab anything they can to defend their comfort zones.
But the crumbling facade that is broadcast newsspeak isn’t worth defending. Time and energy would be better spent on gathering more and better news and delivering it in real words.
– “Flee” meaning “run away”
– “Good” or “bad” news
– “Laud” meaning “praise”
– “Seek” meaning “look for”
– “Some” meaning “about”
– “Two to one margin” . . . “Two to one” is a ratio, not a margin. A margin is measured in points. It’s not a ratio.
– “Yesterday” in a lead sentence
– “Youth” meaning “child”
– 5 a.m. in the morning
– After the break
– After these commercial messages
– Aftermath
– All of you
– Allegations
– Alleged
– Area residents
– As expected
– At risk
– At this point in time
– Authorities
– Auto accident
– Bare naked
– Behind bars
– Behind closed doors
– Behind the podium (you mean lecturn) [sic] – Best kept secret
– Campaign trail
– Clash with police
– Close proximity
– Complete surprise
– Completely destroyed, completely abolished, completely finished or any other completely redundant use
– Death toll
– Definitely possible
– Diva
– Down in (location)
– Down there
– Dubbaya when you mean double you
– Everybody (when referring to the audience)
– Eye Rack or Eye Ran
– False pretenses
– Famed
– Fatal death
– Fled on foot
– Folks
– Giving 110%
– Going forward
– Gunman, especially lone gunman
– Guys
– Hunnert when you mean hundred
– Icon
– In a surprise move
– In harm’s way
– In other news
– In the wake of (unless it’s a boating story)
– Incarcerated
– Informed sources say . . .
– Killing spree
– Legendary
– Lend a helping hand
– Literally
– Lucky to be alive
– Manhunt
– Marred
– Medical hospital
– Mother of all (anything)
– Motorist
– Mute point. (It’s moot point, but don’t say that either)
– Near miss
– No brainer
– Officials
– Our top story tonight
– Out in (location)
– Out there
– Over in
– Pedestrian
– Perfect storm
– Perished
– Perpetrator
– Plagued
– Really
– Reeling
– Reportedly
– Seek
– Senseless murder
– Shots rang out
– Shower activity
– Sketchy details
– Some (meaning about)
– Some of you
– Sources say . . .
– Speaking out
– Stay tuned
– The fact of the matter
– Those of you
– Thus
– Time for a break
– To be fair
– Torrential rain
– Touch base
– Under fire
– Under siege
– Underwent surgery
– Undisclosed
– Undocumented alien
– Unrest
– Untimely death
– Up in (location)
– Up there
– Utilize (you mean use)
– Vehicle
– We’ll be right back
– Welcome back
– Welcome back everybody
– We’ll be back
– Went terribly wrong
– We’re back
– White stuff
– World class
– You folks
