Summary of "Why do news anchors all sound the same? | NEWS WORDS"
Why Do News Anchors All Sound the Same? | NEWS WORDS
The video explores the unique language, jargon, clichés, and stylistic conventions used in journalism and news media. Presenters Rob Watts and Jess Zafarris, both experienced journalists with backgrounds in broadcast and print media, delve into the origins and peculiarities of news-related terminology and reporting practices.
Key Points Covered
1. The Fourth Estate and Fleet Street
The press is historically known as the “Fourth Estate,” alongside the clergy, nobility, and commoners. This term, possibly first used by Edmund Burke in the 18th century, reflects the media’s role in society. Fleet Street in London was once the hub of British print journalism.
2. Journalistic Terms Entering Common Language
Many journalistic terms have become widespread, including:
- Adding “-gate” to scandals (originating from Watergate)
- Phrases like “on the record,” “off the record,” and “on background” (where information can be used but the source remains anonymous)
3. Newspaper Types and Formats
Traditional distinctions between broadsheets (large, reputable papers) and tabloids (smaller, often sensationalist papers) persist, though formats have evolved (e.g., the Berliner size). The word “tabloid” originally referred simply to a smaller paper size, derived from a medicine tablet name.
4. Tabloidese and Journalese
- Tabloidese: Tabloid newspapers use distinctive, often abbreviated or sensational language, such as:
- “lag” for prisoner
- “tot” for child
- “probe” instead of investigation
- Journalese: A broader category of clichés and shorthand common in news writing, driven by space constraints and the need for immediacy.
5. Crash Blossoms and Knobbly Monsters
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Crash Blossoms: Ambiguous or confusing headlines caused by tight space and poor phrasing. Example: “Violinist linked to JAL crash blossoms” (meaning a violinist linked to a plane crash).
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Knobbly Monsters: Unusual or humorous second references to a subject to avoid repetition, such as calling a crocodile a “knobbly monster.” This reflects journalists’ efforts to avoid repeating the same word in close succession, sometimes leading to creative or odd synonyms.
6. Broadcast Journalism Style
News anchors often use a distinctive “news voice” with deliberate pacing and phrasing, partly to keep up with teleprompters and maintain clarity. American newscasts frequently use gerunds (e.g., “sweeping new tariffs set to take effect”) to convey immediacy, a style not common in everyday speech.
7. Journalistic Clichés and Formulations
Common phrases include:
- “set to be”
- “this comes as”
- “crisis talks”
- “heated debates”
- “damning reports”
These are widespread but often uncreative shorthand to convey complex situations quickly. Words like “allegedly” are used to avoid legal risk in crime reporting.
8. Newsroom Jargon and Spelling Oddities
Print journalism has developed its own shorthand spellings and terms, such as:
- Lede: The opening paragraph of a story, spelled differently to avoid confusion with “lead” (metal).
- Hed: Headline, shortened for quick note-taking.
- Dek: The line or block of text under a headline that summarizes or adds detail.
- Nut graf: The paragraph that explains the core point of the story.
- TK: A placeholder meaning “to come,” used to mark missing information that needs to be filled before publication.
9. Betteridge’s Law of Headlines
Headlines ending in a question mark can usually be answered with “no,” reflecting journalists’ tendency to phrase uncertain or unsupported claims as questions to avoid accountability.
10. Historical Journalism Styles
- Yellow Journalism: Sensationalist news named after the “Yellow Kid” comic strip used during newspaper wars in the 1890s.
- Gonzo Journalism: Popularized by Hunter S. Thompson, characterized by subjective, immersive, and often wild reporting.
- Muckraking: Investigative journalism exposing corruption, originally a pejorative term from Theodore Roosevelt, but embraced by early 20th-century journalists.
11. Advice for Journalists
The episode closes with a caution against overused clichés such as “only time will tell,” encouraging journalists to avoid lazy or formulaic endings.
Additional Insights
The video highlights the importance of understanding media bias and source reliability, recommending tools like Ground News for comparing global news coverage and identifying political slants.
Presenters / Contributors
- Rob Watts – Broadcast journalism expert, former BBC journalist, teacher
- Jess Zafarris – Print journalism expert, magazine editor, teacher
Category
News and Commentary
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