The Language of News Chapter 5

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The Language of NewsChapter 5

• I always thought writing was the foundation
• and the basis for journalism in the same way
  being able to draw is the foundation for art.--
  Bob Schieffer, American Journalist

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The Language of News

• Understand the meaning of the words you use and
  use them properly.
• Learning what words mean and using them
  appropriately are basic skills a journalist must
  possess. Look up the word in a dictionary or
  style book if you are not sure if you are using
  it correctly. Use a different word if you are
  not sure.
• People expect more of journalists, who must
  master the English language.
• When news organizations hire a new reporter, they
  look for someone who understands and respects the
  language, knows spelling and grammar, possesses
  an extensive vocabulary and writes in a clear and
  interesting manner.

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Attention to Detail!

• While even careful writers can make mistakes, if
  the errors are not caught and become too
  numerous, they can damage a news organizations
  credibility and force it to print or broadcast
  embarrassing corrections.
• The importance of precise writingthe correct
  choice of words can make a sentence forceful and
  interesting imprecision creates confusion and
  misunderstanding.
• Use strong, descriptive verbs to help readers or
  listeners envision the events described in the
  stories.
• With your words you can paint a vivid picture for
  readers and listeners.

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Avoid clichés like the plague!

• Be careful with adjectives and adverbs since they
  tend to be less forceful, specific and objective
  than nouns and verbs. Most adjectives and
  adverbs waste space by stating the obvious, and
  they may unintentionally inject a reporters
  opinion into the story. (See examples page 99)
• Also avoid clichésthese are words or phrases
  that writers have heard and copied over and over.
  Only time will tell is the worst cliché, often
  used by inexperienced or lazy writers to end a
  story. (see full page of clichés on page 101)

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Avoid Slang Snap!

• Also try to avoid slangfeature stories and
  personality profiles sometimes employ slang
  effectively, but it is inappropriate in straight
  news stories because it is too informal and can
  be annoying.
• Also, slang may baffle or confuse readers who are
  not of the right age or ethnic group to get the
  slang reference.
• Technical language and jargon should also be
  avoided. Most jargon is abstract, wordy,
  repetitious and confusing.
• Many sources reporters routinely use such as
  doctors, lawyers, business people, technical
  reports and police and court records, speak in
  jargon.
• Journalists must translate that jargon into plain
  English for a mass audience. Instead of
  perpetrator use suspect instead of affiant
  use arresting officer.

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Euphemisms, Platitudesand Gush-- Oh My!

• Also avoid
• Euphemisms vague expressions used in place of
  harsher, more offensive terms. Examples saying
  that a woman is expecting rather than
  pregnant. Passed away instead of died.
  Collateral damage for civilian victims.
  Harvesting deer or buffalo instead of hunting
  (and killing) them. Faith-based groups for
  religious groups/churches.
• Platitudes these are dull, trite, obvious
  remarks that state the obvious. (see examples
  page 105).
• Gush writing with exaggerated enthusiasm. News
  stories should report useful information. They
  should not hype, praise or advocatethe sources
  you quote or paraphrase can do that, but the
  reporter should not. (examples, page 106)

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Keep I and me out of news stories

• Avoid first-person references (using I and me
  in news stories).
• Journalists should remain neutral bystanders.
  They should not mention themselves in news
  stories. Journalists should not use the words
  I, me, we, or us, except in a direct
  quote from someone interviewed for the story.
• Avoid excessive punctuation such as exclamation
  points, dashes and parenthesis. Exclamation
  points are rarely necessary. Parentheses
  interrupt the flow of ideas and force people to
  pause and try to figure out some additional bit
  of information.