Showing posts with label Fox News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fox News. Show all posts

Saturday, June 18, 2016

EXACTING


Excessive use of the word, "exact," has watered down its meaning to near nothing.

They're looking for the (exact) cause of the fire.
They don't know the (exact) location of the bank robber.
Who do you think you are, exactly?!

Removing the unnecessary descriptors allows each sentence to stand on its own.

Same with a long list of embellishments the "news media" use to startle, unnerve, and rattle viewers and listeners, including:

devastating
deadly
massive
tragic

Consultants infected broadcast journalism many decades ago.  TV and radio stations hired these guys to recommend ways to improve ratings.  Based on those recommendations, management commanded reporters, editors, and writers to "Be more urgent!"  Make it sound exciting, they said.  And, oh, yeah, give the news department a sexy name:

"Eyewitness News"
"News Now"
"Action News"

Fox News caught on with very attractive anchors in short skirts.  High heels, shapely legs and exposed thighs racked up the ratings.  Hoo, boy!  Gimme that Fox News Alert!

CNN, which earned its reputation on breaking news, now overpaints everything.  The "Breaking News" banner never goes away, rendering the term meaningless.

English is a wonderful language.  She is also a moody, demanding mistress.  But play by her rules and treat her with respect, and she will shower you with clarity, verve and beauty

Sunday, August 9, 2015

The Show


The press has been having some fun with Donald Trump, but in my opinion, the "controversy" is shameful.  I like to hold politicians' feet to the fire.  They should be queried, and hard, but this Trump thing is crap.  Fox's little show in early August was just that: a show.  Fox's storyboard for that show was,  "Watch us 'get' Trump."

Trump is an egoist and a narcissist, among other things.  (Oh, yeah: in case you haven't heard, he's also bombastic.). He is a multi-billionaire who knows how to get things done in the rarified air of the movers and shakers in his sphere.  He does what he wants, he does it his way, and screw anyone who takes offense.  "I don't have time for political correctness," he says.  "And neither does this country."

You've heard the Trump quote about Megyn Kelly.  For overly sensitive women and those who claim to speak for them, he implied that Kelly was being bitchy because she was on her period.  He didn't say that, and he claims that he didn't mean that.

"Who would say that?" Trump told CNN the following Sunday.  "Do you think I'd make a statement like that? Who would make a statement like that? Only a sick person would even think about that."  

His denials, however, are being buried so that the story line continues to morph.  As a result, the press continues to pound its fist over a non-existent slight.

True, Trump's candidacy may eventually implode.  His political adviser, Roger Stone, either was sacked or quit the campaign after the GOP presidential debate.  He claims that he quit.  

If Trump's campaign eventually implodes, I hope that it's because of Trump, not some manufactured controversy.  It's a show, people, performed for your entertainment, and the news media's ratings.  Oh, wait: did I just imply that Fox News practices journalism?