Archive for the ‘Journalism’ Category
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists (Cont’d)
Rule No. 46: There are only two kinds of gunfire: “sporadic” or “rapid-fire.”
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists (Cont’d)
Rule No. 45: Any gathering of more than two journalists at a presser or crime scene is a “media circus.”
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists (Cont’d)
Rule No. 44: Firearms are never “held.” They are always “brandished.”
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists (Cont’d)
Rule No. 43: A “wooded area” is any place with a tree. If there are two trees, it’s a “densely wooded area.”
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists (Cont’d)
Rule No. 42: Any lobbying group with a phone number is “influential.” If it has a letterhead, it is “powerful.”
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists (Cont’d)
Rule No. 41: All immigrants are “animated” or “vibrant.” Especially women.
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists (Cont’d)
Rule No. 40: If a person owns more than one gun, he or she “possesses an arsenal.”
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists (Cont’d)
Rule No. 39: Anything that has been common knowledge for less than three hours is breaking news.
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists (Cont’d.)
Rule No. 34: Sources we like say “going to” and “want to.” Sources we don’t like say “gonna” and “wanna.”
And sometimes you do a story just for the headline
An 18-year-old Florida woman was only slightly injured when she was shot by her friend’s oven, police said.
Yes. An oven. She was trying to cook waffles and didn’t know her friend was storing ammunition in the oven. So we got to write this totally straightforward headline:
Woman shot by oven while trying to cook waffles
Alex Johnson - Journalist at Large 