Once upon a time, editors demanded facts from reporters. Today, anything goes, especially opinions, speculation, ideology, soothsaying, and propaganda. The New York Times is the the best example because it is often described as the world’s finest example of high-standard journalism. What brings this on today is a New York Times news story, as published in the Boston Globe, July 13, 2020, about Turkey’s dictator, Recep Tayyip Erdogan decree turning… Read Article →
Monthly Archives: July 2020
What “little-known” really means.
“Little-known” is journalese for “We missed the story.” A perfect illustration of this was in a Boston Globe story July 9, 2020, with this lede: “Four years ago, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh called on a little-known civilian oversight board to explore new ways to keep tabs on the city’s police force, monitor misconduct, and recommend policy reforms….But today, again amid national uproar over the police killings of Black people,… Read Article →
Hulking leviathans that fly!
Hulking. One of our favorite journalese adjectives. Usually applied to parking garages or other buildings the reporter doesn’t like. But here’s a brand new application: A Bloomberg News story, published in the Boston Globe, July 3, 2020, starts: “Boeing Co. hasn’t told employees, but the company is pulling the plug on its hulking 747 jumbo jet, ending a half-century run for the twin-aisle pioneer.” The 747 is not only hulking,… Read Article →