Comments on: Memo Banning ‘Newsspeak’ Signals Better Direction for Traditional Media

By: Dan Pecchia

Dan Pecchia — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:19:09 +0000

I used “alleged” a lot, too, back in my news days. But there are ways around it. Instead of describing somebody as “the alleged murderer,” we can can say “the man/woman accused of…” It’s not just the word “alleged” that’s problematic, but the awkwardness of using it as adjective.

By: ronni

ronni — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:58:45 +0000

Hi Dan, thanks. I’ve often wondered how death cannot be fatal and proximity can be far away.

By: Joe Bell

Joe Bell — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:37:01 +0000

I might add one other horrible cliche to the list: “Come together.”
This is a relatively new substitute for “gather”, “meet”, “congregate” or “join”. Absurd phrase.
However, I am mystified why some of the other words made the list. As one poster observed, “alleged” is a legal necessity. There is nothing wrong with saying “Sources say…” if you have to protect a confidential source.

By: Matt Evans

Matt Evans — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:58:25 +0000

Eye rackin this is a good news!

By: jim cartwright

jim cartwright — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:41:45 +0000

Dan, way to channel George Carlin who I believe would decry the micromanagement while praising the improved thought process that goes naturally with choosing your words carefully. I admit I don’t know why “alleged” and “allegations” made the list as both are useful to keeping your butt out of a legal sling, but hey, our’s is a living language, gratia Dei. Next, let’s shoot any sportscaster who says “it’s going to be a physical game” and any whether person applying the royal “we” as in “we have rain going on out there,”.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:14:00 +0000

I was wondering if they would have to hire someone to actually police this. Or maybe a browser plug-in that searches your article for the banned words. Wow, it only took me two sentences to turn this into new software that needed to be developed.