The Reader’s Guide to Journalists
Rule No. 59: Real-world values rarely increase “exponentially.” It just sounds cooler than “a lot.”
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists
Rule No. 58: A public official is always “beleaguered” if anyone has said anything negative about him or her in the past two weeks.
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists
Rule No. 57: Adding “-gate” to a noun means we think something’s fishy here but no one’s been convicted yet.
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists
Rule No. 56: All heroes are “unsung” up until the moment they appear on morning network television.
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists
Rule No. 55: A person is “well-known” if spell-check doesn’t underline his or her name in red.
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists
Rule No. 54: “At first glance” means we started with this lede, but the reporting didn’t pan out.
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists
Rule No. 53: Any place that isn’t New York, Boston, Los Angeles or San Francisco is “the heartland.”
Police Blotter of the Day: Suspect says that’s not my pot — it was already in the car when I stole it
Douglas Glidden (Androscoggin County Jail via Sun Journal)
LIVERMORE FALLS — Police said a Jay man was adamant that the marijuana police found in the car he was driving was not his because he had just stolen the car.
Full story (Franklin, Maine, Sun Journal)
Of COURSE It’s Florida: Topless thong-clad woman vandalizes McDonald’s
Of COURSE there’s video. (Pinellas Park, Fla., police via WFLA-TV)
Topless thong-clad woman vandalizes Pinellas Park McDonald’s
A Pinellas Park woman shown topless and wearing a thong as she vandalizes a Pinellas Park McDonald’s was arrested for criminal mischief.
Full story (WFLA-TV)
The Reader’s Guide to Journalists
Rule No. 52: All suburbs are “leafy.” They always have “well-manicured lawns.”
M. Alex Johnson - Journalist at Large 