Randy Michaels may be the CEO of the Tribune Company but its obvious that hes an editor at heart. All editors have certain words and phrases they prohibit; being able to prevent writers (including oneself) from abusing the language is one of the perks of the job. But Michaels may have set a new standard for editorial micro-management. In an edict issued to the anchors and reporters on WGN-AM radio that contained a list of 119 forbidden newsspeak words and phrases.
The list, which is both enviable and insane, includes not only the usual prohibition against redundancies (5 a.m. in the morning, at this point in time) and clichés (clash with police, in harms way) but also phrases that are commonly used both on the radio (well be right back, stay tuned, time for a break) and in news broadcast (authorities, campaign trail, officials).
Here is the complete list:
Flee meaning run away
Good or bad news
Laud meaning praise
Seek meaning look for
Some meaning about
Two to one margin . . . Two to one is a ratio, not a margin. A margin is measured in points. Its not a ratio.
Yesterday in a lead sentence
Youth meaning child
5 a.m. in the morning
After the break
After these commercial messages
Aftermath
All of you
Allegations
Alleged
Area residents
As expected
At risk
At this point in time
Authorities
Auto accident
Bare naked
Behind bars
Behind closed doors
Behind the podium (you mean lecturn) [sic]
Best kept secret
Campaign trail
Clash with police
Close proximity
Complete surprise
Completely destroyed, completely abolished, completely finished or any other completely redundant use
Death toll
Definitely possible
Diva
Down in (location)
Down there
Dubbaya when you mean double you
Everybody (when referring to the audience)
Eye Rack or Eye Ran
False pretenses
Famed
Fatal death
Fled on foot
Folks
Giving 110%
Going forward
Gunman, especially lone gunman
Guys
Hunnert when you mean hundred
Icon
In a surprise move
In harms way
In other news
In the wake of (unless its a boating story)
Incarcerated
Informed sources say . . .
Killing spree
Legendary
Lend a helping hand
Literally
Lucky to be alive
Manhunt
Marred
Medical hospital
Mother of all (anything)
Motorist
Mute point. (Its moot point, but dont say that either)
Near miss
No brainer
Officials
Our top story tonight
Out in (location)
Out there
Over in
Pedestrian
Perfect storm
Perished
Perpetrator
Plagued
Really
Reeling
Reportedly
Seek
Senseless murder
Shots rang out
Shower activity
Sketchy details
Some (meaning about)
Some of you
Sources say . . .
Speaking out
Stay tuned
The fact of the matter
Those of you
Thus
Time for a break
To be fair
Torrential rain
Touch base
Under fire
Under siege
Underwent surgery
Undisclosed
Undocumented alien
Unrest
Untimely death
Up in (location)
Up there
Utilize (you mean use)
Vehicle
Well be right back
Welcome back
Welcome back everybody
Well be back
Went terribly wrong
Were back
White stuff
World class
You folks
The best part is that they are “to report any on-air infractions by their co-workers, making sure to note the precise time and date on ‘bingo cards’ he provided that contain a random assortment of Michaels forbidden words.” I wonder if after ratting on their co-workers, employees get a bonus for filling up their card.