Personality, useful euphemism

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The American Heritage Dictionary says the term “personality, for celebrity or notable, is widely used in speech and journalism.” I would add that it can be used when reporters want to avoid telling  the truth about an individual. An example of this was in an AP story, Sept. 13, 2017, about the White House naming Hope Hicks as communications director.  The story explains: “Hicks, 28, is the third White House communications director  in nearly eight months. Her predecessor, Wall Street personality Anthony Scaramucci, served in the role for less than two weeks.” The accurate description of Scaramucci would be  rich, foul-mouthed, jerk.

The story, if used in Boston’s late, lamented Mid-Town Journal, would be headlined: White House Hicks Hope Hope Hicks Sticks.

File under: Euphemisms at work in the newsroom.

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