OK, I'm pissed.
I just read a blog from a guy who was touting that he was a "real" journalist because his blog "broke a story." Then he chided an actual newspaper for "claiming to break the story.
Puhleeze.
The "story" that was broken was a link. No details -- just here it is, folks.
The newspaper, on the other hand, had a reporter who actually made phone calls and dug for facts. Furthermore, the reporter's name -- his REAL name -- was at the top of the story. Not some pseudonym or cutesy screen name to hide behind and to abandon when the heat's too hot in the kitchen.
I like blogs. Hell, here I am spouting off on one. And I won't deny for a minute that I'm using my own cutesy screen name.
Is this a news source? HELL NO. I'm not even going to pretend it is. It's my forum for letting it all out. Sometimes, I use it as a sounding board about current events. But breaking news on it? Hardly.
I've broken a few stories in my day -- using my name. My real name. Have I received criticism? Sure. If I put it on the line, I should take my licks like a big girl. In my real name.
There are some good blogging news sources. But there are more (and they're breeding like bunnies, folks) bad ones who want to play "journalist" without getting their hands dirty.
To give the devil his due, there are some bad journalists out there, too. (Jayson Blair or Jean Cooke, anyone?) But, believe it or not, they're a rarity.
Most journalists are underpaid and overworked. They care about getting the most accurate facts to you. They confront politicians on behalf of you.
Sometimes, what looks like a good news story just doesn't have the facts behind it to come together. The reputable journalist will recognize that. His real name and reputation are on the line, after all.
OK, this is disjointed and in all likelihood, not my best work. But there it is. And even without my real name on it, I'll take my licks.
After all, I'm on both sides.
Showing posts with label words. Show all posts
Showing posts with label words. Show all posts
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sunday, October 14, 2007
With apologies to William Penn
I have a love-hate relationship with the AP Stylebook. It's my work bible.
Looking for shorthand for "until"? It's not "til." It's "till." I can back that up with Stylebook passage.
I'm well-versed in it, but like most followers, I still uncover surprises. And Norm, the AP god who deigns what is proper and improper in The Book for its annual publication, sometimes changes his mind. It drives me mad when he does that.
Here's an example: For years, Norm declared that "fund raising" was two words; "fundraiser," however, was one. Until 2005, when the AP god wed "fund" to "raising" and decreed it one word.
(I still wonder why it took him years to merge the words "teen" and "ager" to make one word. I think he finally did it when he realized that every editor, including me, ignored his edict and blended them anyway. Like some Christians, we editors can become rather cafeteria-minded when it comes to what we want to believe.)
One place I won't deviate, however, is in the case of state abbreviations. Norm, not the U.S. Postal Service, has it right. It's "Tenn.," not "TN" for my state of domicile. "Ohio" should be spelled out in its entirety (come on, people; it's only two more letters. Are we really that lazy?)
In one instance, USPS and Norm are in complete concert. "Pennsylvania," according to both PTB, is abbreviated "Pa."
I once had an editorial assistant who abbreviated it "Penn." It set my teeth on edge. We went round and round. I flung The Book at her, showing her the correct passage. She'd smile and nod ... then abbreviate it "Penn." the next time. Grrrrrrr.
So you can see why my teeth were set on edge when I read the article about the passing of Werner von Trapp, one of the von Trapps from Sound of Music fame. As I read about his life, I came across the following:
I don't even remember the rest of the article. I stumbled on that abbreviation and choked.
Do I even have to mention the article's source? The Associated Press. Yes -- the one and the same. The one that cuts Norm his paycheck for being its deity and editing its holy grail that we, the lowly editors of newspapers, must adhere.
What kind of editors are looking over AP copy? In my not-so humble opinion, the answer is either A) None; or B) Ones who suck.
Furthermore, why aren't the reporters checking their abbreviations? State abbreviations are taught in Copy Editing 101.
Go get 'em, Norm!
Looking for shorthand for "until"? It's not "til." It's "till." I can back that up with Stylebook passage.
I'm well-versed in it, but like most followers, I still uncover surprises. And Norm, the AP god who deigns what is proper and improper in The Book for its annual publication, sometimes changes his mind. It drives me mad when he does that.
Here's an example: For years, Norm declared that "fund raising" was two words; "fundraiser," however, was one. Until 2005, when the AP god wed "fund" to "raising" and decreed it one word.
(I still wonder why it took him years to merge the words "teen" and "ager" to make one word. I think he finally did it when he realized that every editor, including me, ignored his edict and blended them anyway. Like some Christians, we editors can become rather cafeteria-minded when it comes to what we want to believe.)
One place I won't deviate, however, is in the case of state abbreviations. Norm, not the U.S. Postal Service, has it right. It's "Tenn.," not "TN" for my state of domicile. "Ohio" should be spelled out in its entirety (come on, people; it's only two more letters. Are we really that lazy?)
In one instance, USPS and Norm are in complete concert. "Pennsylvania," according to both PTB, is abbreviated "Pa."
I once had an editorial assistant who abbreviated it "Penn." It set my teeth on edge. We went round and round. I flung The Book at her, showing her the correct passage. She'd smile and nod ... then abbreviate it "Penn." the next time. Grrrrrrr.
So you can see why my teeth were set on edge when I read the article about the passing of Werner von Trapp, one of the von Trapps from Sound of Music fame. As I read about his life, I came across the following:
After the Trapp Family Singers retired, von Trapp helped to found a music school in Reading, Penn., called the Community School of Music.
I don't even remember the rest of the article. I stumbled on that abbreviation and choked.
Do I even have to mention the article's source? The Associated Press. Yes -- the one and the same. The one that cuts Norm his paycheck for being its deity and editing its holy grail that we, the lowly editors of newspapers, must adhere.
What kind of editors are looking over AP copy? In my not-so humble opinion, the answer is either A) None; or B) Ones who suck.
Furthermore, why aren't the reporters checking their abbreviations? State abbreviations are taught in Copy Editing 101.
Go get 'em, Norm!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
All done!
As of 4 a.m., I finished all 759 pages of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
It's been a different weekend. I've been away from the computer, except for playing a few games of Word Whomp, because I was terrified I would turn up spoilers.
I won't spoil it for any who haven't read it yet. Some things were unexpected; others I predicted. Reading well-written text is a joy, and Rowling doesn't disappoint.
There. That's it for a while. Have fun reading the book. And if you're not reading it, READ!
You won't be disappointed.
It's been a different weekend. I've been away from the computer, except for playing a few games of Word Whomp, because I was terrified I would turn up spoilers.
I won't spoil it for any who haven't read it yet. Some things were unexpected; others I predicted. Reading well-written text is a joy, and Rowling doesn't disappoint.
There. That's it for a while. Have fun reading the book. And if you're not reading it, READ!
You won't be disappointed.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Itchy teeth
... and gag reflex fully at work. From the Knoxville News Sentinel:
Wrong! Smithers is actually an inmate trusty. To wit:
A trustee, in case anyone was wondering, is:
A good rule of thumb that I learned at a workshop has turned out to be one of the best pieces of advice I've heard in regard to writing: Look up any word you haven't used in six months before putting it in your text.
It works. Trust me.
Smithers, an inmate trustee, fled from jail sometime after 4:30 p.m. Sunday, according to Monroe County Sheriff’s Detective Jennifer Bledsoe.
Wrong! Smithers is actually an inmate trusty. To wit:
trust·y (trŭs'tē) Pronunciation Key
adj. trust·i·er, trust·i·est
Meriting trust; trustworthy. See Synonyms at reliable.
n. pl. trust·ies
1. A convict regarded as worthy of trust and therefore granted special privileges.
2. A trusted person.
A trustee, in case anyone was wondering, is:
trus·tee (trŭ-stē') Pronunciation Key
n.1. Law One, such as a bank, that holds legal title to property in order to administer it for a beneficiary.
2. A member of a board elected or appointed to direct the funds and policy of an institution.
3. A country responsible for supervising a trust territory. See Usage Note at -ee
1. v. trus·teed, trus·tee·ing, trus·tees
v. tr.To place (property) in the care of a trustee.
v.
intr. To function or serve as a trustee.
A good rule of thumb that I learned at a workshop has turned out to be one of the best pieces of advice I've heard in regard to writing: Look up any word you haven't used in six months before putting it in your text.
It works. Trust me.
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