Randy Michaels, chief executive of US media company Tribune, which owns the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times, has banned 119 words and phrases from the troubled media company's talk radio station WGN-AM.
He is attracting flak from bloggers in the US, including Robert Feder, but it seems an admirable exercise to me, even if he seems to have gone overboard in the execution.
Feder slams the exercise as being "petty and insulting micromanaging of subordinates" but quotes WGN news director Charlie Meyerson, who supports the list:
"The real goal here is to avoid using words that make you sound like you're reading, instead of talking — that shatter the image you're speaking knowledgeably to one person. By not using 'newsspeak,' you enhance your reputation as a communicator."
The complete list is here, while National Public Radio has a bit of fun trying to fashion the banned phrases into a coherent narrative.
Meanwhile, a taster of the Randy Michaels newsspeak ban list:
"Flee" meaning "run away"
"Yesterday" in a lead sentence
5 a.m. in the morning
After the break
Auto accident
Bare naked
Behind bars
Complete surprise
Death toll
Definitely possible
Fatal death
Fled on foot
Giving 110%
Going forward
Gunman, especially lone gunman
In a surprise move
Killing spree
Lucky to be alive
Manhunt
Medical hospital
Near miss
Perfect storm
Senseless murder
Shots rang out
Shower activity
Time for a break
Underwent surgery
Undocumented alien
Untimely death
We're back
White stuff
You folks
