Comments on: Overcome adjective addiction http://www.newslab.org/2009/10/13/overcom-adjective-addiction/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:19:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael Cremedas, Prof. Newhouse School, Syracuse University http://www.newslab.org/2009/10/13/overcom-adjective-addiction/comment-page-1/#comment-458 Michael Cremedas, Prof. Newhouse School, Syracuse University Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:13:44 +0000 http://www.newslab.org/?p=1376#comment-458 Bravo, Deborah! And it's not just local anchors and reporters. Check out Wolfie on CNN. Oh, you forget "brutal" murder. Is there any other kind? Bravo, Deborah! And it’s not just local anchors and reporters. Check out Wolfie on CNN.

Oh, you forget “brutal” murder. Is there any other kind?

]]> By: Deborah Potter http://www.newslab.org/2009/10/13/overcom-adjective-addiction/comment-page-1/#comment-457 Deborah Potter Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:46:12 +0000 http://www.newslab.org/?p=1376#comment-457 They do say that imitation is the sincerest form of television, so I'll bet you're right. If one station is doing it, others must be. Maybe someone figured out that viewers weren't being fooled by all the "only on" claims on local newscasts. My favorite ruse: hyping an interview as exclusive when you can see every camera in town in the cutaways. This latest wrinkle is more subtle though. Maybe the mayor really did call the reporter to provide additional information, or maybe the photojournalist got the police officer off to the side for a one-on-one. But if the same information turns up on every station, viewers will figure out they're being played yet again. Here's hoping they register their disapproval in no uncertain terms. They do say that imitation is the sincerest form of television, so I’ll bet you’re right. If one station is doing it, others must be. Maybe someone figured out that viewers weren’t being fooled by all the “only on” claims on local newscasts. My favorite ruse: hyping an interview as exclusive when you can see every camera in town in the cutaways. This latest wrinkle is more subtle though. Maybe the mayor really did call the reporter to provide additional information, or maybe the photojournalist got the police officer off to the side for a one-on-one. But if the same information turns up on every station, viewers will figure out they’re being played yet again. Here’s hoping they register their disapproval in no uncertain terms.

]]> By: Dave Black http://www.newslab.org/2009/10/13/overcom-adjective-addiction/comment-page-1/#comment-454 Dave Black Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:45:43 +0000 http://www.newslab.org/?p=1376#comment-454 Ms. Potter, What has me all tied up, in our market anyway, is pronoun-stuffed copy, with the writer either referring to him/herself or the news organization, ie., "The police officer told me . . ." or " I spoke with the mayor . . ." There has always been some of that but it is now rampant especially with one station. It suggests exclusivity but is not. I'm told it was suggested by Magid so I assume it is happening elsewhere. Ms. Potter,

What has me all tied up, in our market anyway, is pronoun-stuffed copy, with the writer either referring to him/herself or the news organization, ie., “The police officer told me . . .” or ” I spoke with the mayor . . .”

There has always been some of that but it is now rampant especially with one station. It suggests exclusivity but is not. I’m told it was suggested by Magid so I assume it is happening elsewhere.

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