Media & Journalism - August 2007

I was reading a wire service story about the decline in size of lake Superior. One person interviewed thought that water from Lake Superior was being used for irrigation. The lead-in to a quote from an expert was:

"That theory doesn't hold water, said Scott Thieme, hydraulics and hydrology chief with the Corps of Engineers district office in Detroit."

It seems that journalists, even those with the Associated Press, can't resist a bad pun. What are your examples of bad puns in headlines or news stories you've read? If you can't remember any, make up a headline (preferably in bad taste) about some major event, past or current (just let me know it's fake) that uses a bad pun.

2007-08-03 16:29:46 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

Sometimes I disagree with serverl viewpoints but sometime I do agree with him. What you do guys think?

2007-08-03 15:58:43 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

I get so tired of local media hype. I mean, it's not everyday that we hear of bridges collapsing. Not to downplay what happened, but who else is tired of crappy local media reporting that just acts like the general public is a bunch of idiots?

2007-08-03 15:22:45 · 11 answers · asked by Josh S 2

2007-08-03 12:01:07 · 3 answers · asked by zaggittier 4

Fox went to court to obtain the right to lie and an appeals court upheld that right in a case involving two Fox reporters who wanted to tell the truth but were prohibited from doing so by their employer, Fox. Case involves reporters Akre and Wilson, look it up. Why is it important that Fox be granted the right to lie on their newscasts? Why would they even want that? Do you feel comfortable knowing that Fox thought it was important to establish the legal right to lie to you, their audience? Maybe there is a good side to this, I'd like to hear it, if there is one. Thanks!

2007-08-03 08:17:24 · 9 answers · asked by jxt299 7

With the excuse that bad news makes great profits, why not try and see what good news brings.

2007-08-03 05:03:47 · 3 answers · asked by Niceguy23 2

The one I'd like to see disappear is "hammering out a deal." Whenever any kind of negotiation happens, the two sides are described as "hammering out a deal." Whatever happened to "negotiating" and "have come to an agreement"?

Also, I'd like to see "cautiously optimistic" disappear.

What phrases would you like to see disappear from journalism?

2007-08-02 17:05:38 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

wasn't it obvious enough that the bridge was structurly unsound? How could this have been overlooked? How many more of our old bridges are subject to extensive renovation?
My heart goes out to the people there!

2007-08-02 15:12:26 · 9 answers · asked by HAYLEY 3

I've noticed that the women on CNN and FOX are starting to look like an America's Top Model contestant...no complaints, just asking.

2007-08-02 11:10:29 · 11 answers · asked by SoCal 6

Do Americans as well as the rest of the world deserve to know what really happened to Pat Tillman over there?

2007-08-02 11:01:45 · 5 answers · asked by PushSucharaX 3

Why do American's insist on using metaphors like "football field" when describing distance, even worse, "three football fields". Who has seen three football fields, end to end?
And "War zone" to describe a storm's damage? How many Americans have actually seen a war zone, everyone has seen a storm damage.
One evening, on an American channel, I heard of a battle-field being described as looking like it had been struck by a tornado.
Now that is taking it too far.
STOP THIS DAMNED METAPHORICAL SPEAKING!
Any comments?

2007-08-02 10:52:26 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous

"Peak Oil" means that we are beginning to use more oil than is being discovered. Consequently, prices of all things depending on oil are increasing very rapidly. There is consensus among experts for the past 40 years. Is this information being systematically surpressed? Why don't we see stories on FOX news?

http://www.garynorth.com/public/department82.cfm

2007-08-02 10:02:36 · 3 answers · asked by Skeptic 7

I've often heard people talking about this is that and that is this and I've never really understood which news stations are considered what. If someone could please clue me in I would appreciate it. Thank you!

2007-08-02 09:50:39 · 14 answers · asked by KD 1

Alright, I was watching CNBC (I think that's the one.. hmm) last night.. and it started out with 6 confirmed deaths.. about 2 hours later they had 7 confirmed.. (that happens obviously)... but I went to sleep.. woke up and when I turned the TV on they said 4 confirmed deaths.. okay.. what 3 people don't count anymore? The ones last night were CONFIRMED.. so, how would you say they could get 3 less in the morning?

I'm just curious.. and I don't hold fault with the news anchors or anything.. (although one of them last night was pretty bad.. kept making guesses that would leave a conspiracy theorist with plenty of fodder) and I realize that it is a chaotic environment.. but that is why the importance of confirmation is important.. (As I recall one of the doctor's also confirmed the 6.. but after that update he said they weren't having another briefing that night)
With the hundreds of questions about this event, I didn't want to add more, but I didn't notice one about this.

2007-08-02 07:27:16 · 11 answers · asked by kaijawitch 7

Alright, I was watching CNBC (I think that's the one.. hmm) last night.. and it started out with 6 confirmed deaths.. about 2 hours later they had 7 confirmed.. (that happens obviously)... but I went to sleep.. woke up and when I turned the TV on they said 4 confirmed deaths.. okay.. what 3 people don't count anymore? The ones last night were CONFIRMED.. so, how would you say they could get 3 less in the morning?

I'm just curious.. and I don't hold fault with the news anchors or anything.. (although one of them last night was pretty bad.. kept making guesses that would leave a conspiracy theorist with plenty of fodder) and I realize that it is a chaotic environment.. but that is why the importance of confirmation is important.. (As I recall one of the doctor's also confirmed the 6.. but after that update he said they weren't having another briefing that night)
With the hundreds of questions about this event, I didn't want to add more, but I didn't notice one about this.

2007-08-02 07:27:08 · 4 answers · asked by kaijawitch 7

I mean, is it really that bad?

Don't get me wrong. Things aren't getting better out there but they aren't getting any worser either. I think the biggest change in the last 20 years has been our sensitivity to things that "shake our world" or comfort zone. I think the media is largely to blame for this. The media is constantly looking for disaster stories and the negative side of things. The modern media is creating mass paranoia and over-reaction in today's highly tenative society. Don't you think?

2007-08-02 06:25:43 · 4 answers · asked by icyhott4urmind 1

2007-08-02 05:50:41 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous

That would pretty much kill most of their agenda.

2007-08-02 05:33:54 · 5 answers · asked by bradxschuman 6

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/study_iraqis_may_experience

Doesn't this embolden the terrorists?

2007-08-02 05:08:48 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-08-02 04:42:34 · 3 answers · asked by afiasan 3

has anyone heard on the new's how larry birkhead is doing with anna nicole's daughter? haven't heard anything in awhile.

2007-08-02 04:18:33 · 3 answers · asked by Gone 7

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91210-1278250,00.html

2007-08-02 01:13:36 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-08-01 23:56:06 · 4 answers · asked by ericbahns 1

Why would CNN have a would-be expert on saying that it is a myth that people can survive in a pocket of air in a submerged car? These people whose loved-ones are still missing in the Mississippi river need something to hold onto until the search for survivers resumes in the morning. They are very insensitve.

2007-08-01 22:19:31 · 8 answers · asked by Jacks036 5

2007-08-01 17:35:29 · 14 answers · asked by honey 2

Dodgy phone-in competitions, framing the queen, lying about old geezers dying onscreen, etc etc etc.

Blimey Charlie! Television isn't very good recently is it?

What do you think? Has it always been as bad as this (and we just didn't know it before)? Is it trying to be more edgy because it's "old media" to the internet's "new media"? Is its useful life-expectancy running out? What on earth is going on eh?

2007-08-01 17:35:10 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-08-01 17:03:25 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous

Here's how i know if a news program is fair and balanced. If the host doesn't refer to name calling...ie: "liberal or conservative"...and focus on the news itself, than it's probably not bias.
So, people, tell me who uses those words perpetually by the minute?

2007-08-01 15:52:59 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous

OMG!!!!! what does everyone think about the bridge accident in minneapolis??! Isnt it awful!!!!!! omg i cant imaginine anyone who was in that accident i give them all my sympothy and i pray that they are going to be ok!!! And the ppl who survived is a mirical and i still give them my sympothy!!! ;( its terrible.

2007-08-01 13:43:15 · 6 answers · asked by [LeT's GeT WaStEd] 2

I'm watching the news coverage right now and it seems pretty chaotic and no one really knows what's going on.

2007-08-01 13:31:49 · 15 answers · asked by Susan G 6