Jazzing up a not surprising story.

How does a reporter jazz up a not surprising story? Easy. Just throw in an adverb. In this example, by AP, it’s “astonishingly.” Any reader with the slightest interest in the Middle East knows of bombings, terror, killings and danger in Turkey, especially to foreign tourists. But here’s an AP story lead, Jan 8, 2017:

“ISTANBUL — The once-bustling Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is astonishingly quiet. The shops and restaurants in the city’s trendy Istiklal Street are all but empty of foreign customers, and the hotels in the upscale Nisantasi district are nearly deserted.

“Turkey’s economy is suffering in the face of a string of extremist attacks — including the nightclub massacre of New Year’s revelers, most of them foreigners — and uncertainty following the failed coup in July against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that saw more than 270 people killed.”

Astonishingly? Guess that’s hotter than reporting, “The Grand Bazaar is not surprisingly quiet.”

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