Bad Headlines

Gavin Scott · Fri 28 Aug, 2009 08.38

cwathen wrote:Whilst we're on words/expressions not normally said, what is it this obsession the tabloid press have with the word 'romp' (or the equally common verb 'to romp')? Who actually says that in normal conversation/writing?

Apparently I "romp" in "gay haunts" - which makes me feel like some kind of villain in a Scooby Doo mystery.

Sput · Fri 28 Aug, 2009 08.49

Do you leave a trail of ectoplasm behind?

Gavin Scott · Fri 28 Aug, 2009 09.06

Sput wrote:Do you leave a trail of ectoplasm behind?

If the money's right.

Andrew Wood · Thu 10 Sep, 2009 16.54

Boyle is 'edging closer' to Porno - BBC News

I was briefly mortified when I read that headline. SuBo of all people...

SiGa · Fri 11 Sep, 2009 08.32

That made me feel quite ill the thought of her in a porno.

James H · Fri 11 Sep, 2009 18.19

A trend I despise is using quotation marks in headlines. I find it so sloppy, and there's always another alternative:

Bed sharing 'bad for your health' > Bed sharing could harm health

And at other times, the quotations are totally unnecessary:

Household wealth 'falls by £31k' > Household wealth falls by £31k
Nirvana 'dismayed' at Cobain game > Nirvana dismayed at Cobain game
New malaria 'poses human threat' > New malaria poses human threat

If they're going to use quotations, they should at least write:

Fatal overdose GP 'irresponsible' > Overdose GP "irresponsible" says manager

Most of the examples you've quoted are actually valid uses of quotations. They're used in headlines because it's not the opinion of the writer, but the opinion of the person who has given the quotation. The one you've written, 'New malaria poses human threat' is not acceptable because effectively it's reporting an opinion as fact. The former is better as it reports correctly that it is merely quoted opinion that a human threat is posed.

Alexia · Fri 11 Sep, 2009 21.53

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8250609.stm
Q&A - How Do You Define Sex?

Erm...well where do I start?

Perhaps "gender" would have been better!

Chie · Fri 11 Sep, 2009 23.22

A trend I despise is using quotation marks in headlines. I find it so sloppy, and there's always another alternative:

Bed sharing 'bad for your health' > Bed sharing could harm health

And at other times, the quotations are totally unnecessary:

Household wealth 'falls by £31k' > Household wealth falls by £31k
Nirvana 'dismayed' at Cobain game > Nirvana dismayed at Cobain game
New malaria 'poses human threat' > New malaria poses human threat

If they're going to use quotations, they should at least write:

Fatal overdose GP 'irresponsible' > Overdose GP "irresponsible" says manager

It's the same with hospital stories:

The patient is said to be recovering.

The news reader or journalist adding 'is said to be' makes it sound like they don't trust the doctor's judgement. If you can't trust a doctor to diagnose someone's condition properly, then who can you trust? It's so silly.

Jovis · Fri 11 Sep, 2009 23.24

Not really, it's an opinion, not a fact, as doctor's mostly give. It's their judgement, nothing about trust. And 'is said to be' normally means they aren't hearing from the doctor in any case.

Nick Harvey · Sat 12 Sep, 2009 11.53

I'm finding this thread slightly amusing.

If we take a step back from talking about journalists and use the name they always used to have, reporters, then all becomes clear.

Just check out the proper definition and derivation of the word 'reporter' and you'll all understand why the quotation marks and why the third person gets used.

In the days when the newspaper came out the following day, the quotes appeared much more sensible; now with twenty-four hour news, and the immediacy that brings, reporting something thirty seconds after it happens brings different challenges.