Signs, signals and signaling

Our journalese dictionary definition of sign is “Another way of offering a reporter’s opinion,” while “signal,” used as a verb, means the reporter figures that something may happen. The New York Times loves signals. A search of the past 12 months gets 402 hits for “signaling.” Here are the latest examples, both on Jan. 19, 2018:

“The House approved the measure 230-197, despite conflicting signals by Trump sent throughout the day….” And, “In an early morning Twitter post, Trump took the unusual step of publicly pushing back against his own White House, signaling a disconnect between the president and his staff at a crucial time…”

File under: All the signals in the guise of news.

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