Are you annoyed by bad puns in journalists' articles or headlines?

Question

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.

Answer 1

Real headlines:

"Unbreakable Window Solves a Big Pane"

"Battle of Buicks Saturday
[subhed]: You buffs 'auto' be told' 'Little Indy' revving up"

[The next two were locals on a wire story about small, specialized foundries facing troubles at the same time that, generally speaking, foundry businesses were prospering nationwide]:

"America's Foundry Business is Foundering"

"Foundry Business Flounders"
[nice when you can't even get the misleading pun right]

And these, one real and one satirical, from this year:

http://bp0.blogger.com/_HVN-UM1oBn4/RpTkeNQGdBI/AAAAAAAAADE/GU4cwLL8kpk/s1600-h/pantsuit.jpg

http://bp2.blogger.com/_HVN-UM1oBn4/RnvqeUTYg6I/AAAAAAAAACU/I-kjxue4dYs/s1600-h/letter_to_the_editor.jpg

Actually, for what it's worth, I notice the AP is the most guilty party around concerning the in-story puns of the sort you referenced. If you think what the New York desk allows to be sent out to newspapers is bad, you should take a gander at the AP broadcast wire sometime. Lordy. Seems like every other soft feature story script has puns and cutesy phrasing. A bit more allowed in broadcast, to be sure. But still. If something's naturally funny, I say let the content of the audio/video do the talking. No need for the writers to primp it up beyond what it is.

Answer 2

As long as the story isn't too serious, headlines are a chance to have a little fun.

One of my best efforts came when Gonzaga ended a long search for a basketball coach by hiring Mark Few. My headline:

Many are called,
but Few is chosen

Answer 3

newshounds and Historians are often Liberal. they even have your toddlers believing that Abe Lincoln became a great President. He became an unqualified Statesman from Illinois (sound conventional?) who began an unlawful conflict, suspended Habeus Corpus and have been given a million/2 million human beings killed. How is he a great President? simply by fact he became a Liberal. The accomplice shape outlawed slavery. U.S. grant owned slaves, Robert E. Lee did not. the 1st Slave deliver became equipped in MA. Historians have written concerning the terrible situations at Andersonville yet you in no way here concerning the POW Camps the Union ran. verify into Elmira. The Liberal Media has brainwashed the ignorant into believing Bush is the worst President ever out of organic hatred yet I prospered a great deal below his 2 words. They in no way point out that the financial device began to tank and gas fees began to Sky Rocket after Democrats took administration of Congress. Open your eyes. This united states became doing great lower back in '03 and '04. seem up info and stop eating the Kool-help.

Answer 4

I noticed that the New York Post's most favorite words in a headline are: murder, kill, masacre, shoot, hurt and sex.

Answer 5

As a journalist, I hate that crap but am sometimes guilty of it, too.
Love you, bye.

Answer 6

I agree..its not even creative...and to think, writers have to have a degree and this is what they are coming up with...

Answer 7

they do anything they can to snag your attention. I agree, some of it is pretty cheesy.

Answer 8

sorry! don't know!