Journalese of the Day: Storied

Our Journalese Dictionary’s definition of storied: “Reporter really doesn’t know what the person or place is ‘storied’ about, but some old person said the person or place was famous once.” Well, Yellowstone National Park is certainly famous, but “storied” animals? This is from an AP story, Aug. 29, 2016: “Record visitor numbers at the nation’s first national park have transformed its annual summer rush into a sometimes dangerous frenzy, with tourists routinely breaking park rules and getting too close to Yellowstone’s storied elk herds, grizzly bears, wolves, and bison.” Story is illustrated with a photo of a long line of cars held up by bison crossing the road. Can’t you hear the drivers saying, “I wish they’d get those (bleepin’) storied bison off the roads.”

-Robert Skole