Monthly Archives: December 2021

The wise guys speak

When a reporter quotes someone anonymously, or uses the source for information, it would be obvious to most everyone that the source knows what he or she is talking about. After all, a reporter wouldn’t base a story on someone who is dumb as a sack of rocks and had absolutely no idea of what the hell is going on. But to make absolutely sure that the source is trustworthy,… Read Article →

How many are many?

A favorite word that lazy reporters get away with is “many.” Back in my years at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, any student using it would get an F and a dope slap. He or she would not use “many” again. The New York Times loves the word. So does the Boston Globe. There are no editors who ask reporters or headline writers, “How many?” What brings this… Read Article →