Don’t mention the straight face.

There’s an obscure Law of Journalese that prohibits a reporter from quoting a source and adding that it was said “with a straight face.” This law was followed by Boston Globe business reporter John Chesto on Jan. 8, 2019, in a story about developers being the big donors of the $1.1 million collected by Governor Charles Baker’s second-term inauguration celebration committee. Developers and others who like to help out the governor could give unlimited amounts for the bash, but Baker’s committee limited it to a measly $25,000 per donor, and scores happily met that limit.

Chesto reports: “Inaugural committee representatives say the gifts don’t provide special access.”

Boston hacks are pros. It takes skill and experience to say such stuff and keep a straight face. With not even a wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

To see how Boston works, check the story at:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2019/01/07/developers-give-big-assist-baker-inaugural-committee/lSu3zIHzv6G91WGhoyGpAL/story.html

File under: Greasing the Hub of the Universe.