The joys of Internet news July 15, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: cbs3.com, Humor, Journalism
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The Internet is a confusing place, especially for news organizations. Attempting to find a clear-cut, concise way to present the news is a challenge. Many succeed. Some fail. Others just have mistakes.
I believe cbs3.com is one of those sites that succeeds. You know where to find information. Therefore, it’s easy to find a mistake.
The scenario is a Wisconsin who attempted to place a microwaved rat in her food at an upscale restaurant and blackmail the eatery for $500,000 in exchange for not going to the media. She failed.
And now, the accompanying photo. Cutlines/captions are fun, especially when misplaced…
If that’s Debbie Miller, then this makes for a cannibalistic rat, I suppose.
Not to be outdone by CBS3 July 10, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Journalism, Larry Mendte, NBC10, Vince DeMentri
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First, it was not to be outdone by Alycia. And now, it’s this.
Apparently, NBC10 anchor Vince DeMentri was jealous of the press CBS3′s talent has been getting. So he decided to get some of his own.
Eternal newser Dan Gross reports that DeMentri may have allegedly vandalized cohort (and possibly former companion?) Lori Delgado’s car in the NBC10 parking lot. The DA has called it a “non-issue.”
DeMentri wasn’t on the air last Thursday and Friday (after an apparent argument with the station manager) and has been off the air this week for a planned Jamaican vacation, though he apparently never left the country.
As I’ve said before, I don’t like to comment on these situations publicly. But I will say this. I want a job in the future. A job where I can be credible. But I’ve got a few more years. So please, while there’s still a little bit of time left, let’s maintain some sort of credibility in Philadelphia!? Please!?
Buy the AP an AP Stylebook July 10, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: Associated Press, Journalism
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OK, so I’m sure it happens frequently, for we’re all human and everyone makes mistakes.
However, based on my experience as a copy editor, this mistake, for me, is one of the most unforgiveable under the Associated Press Stylebook. We all know how I love Wikipedia. In fact, Wikipedia is itself a new entry in the most recent stylebook.
The Associated Press lauds itself on its consistency, hence the need for such a book. One of my favorite books, actually. It just beats out Where’s Waldo? Only by a hair, though.
In an article by the AP about the inclusion of jalapeno peppers and cilantro to the tomato salmonella warning (which, by the way, I’m not happy about — no more salsa for me), this casual mistake occurs:
Tauxe said that makes the toll of the current salmonella outbreak far surpass recent large outbreaks of any foodborne disease: salmonella linked to peanut butter in 2006 and hepatitis A from green onions in 2003. It’s not quite as big as when cyclospora-tainted raspberries sickened well over 1,000 people in the mid-1990s.
As I’d stressed to The Temple News staff last year, this was one of the most common and most disturbing mistakes copy editors found in copy. I nearly cried every time I saw it.
OVER means physically above. The cow jumped OVER the moon. When discussing quantities, the term MORE THAN should be used. There are more than 100 people interested in the position.
Seems trivial. But it’s not. Let’s start incorporating this in our speech in addition to writing.
And by the way, same rule applies for UNDER and LESS THAN. In case you were wondering.
The makings of a dictionary addition: Phrustration July 9, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Philadelphia, Random Rubbish.Tags: Dictionary, Journalism, Philadelphia Phillies
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It’s been commonplace for me in the past few days to read an article from the Inquirer or Daily News criticizing the Phillies’ performance and suggesting the next step.
So, as I was reading this article from DN writer Paul Hagen, one particular word stuck out to me. As a copy editor, I probably wouldn’t have let this slide (assuming the inclusion was intentional). But hence, it made it to print.
The bottom of the second inning summed up the phrustration.
I googled the term “phrustration,” and from what I could find beyond the prompts of “Did you mean frustration?,” it’s a term reserved for clever (or cliched) headlines used either a) for a play on articles criticizing Philly sports teams or b) a way to emphasize (or create) the alliteration effect with another word that actually begins with “ph.”
Is this the DN’s way of trying to make a word commonplace? If so, I want some credit.
phrustration (frŭ-strā’shən) /noun/ – the feeling of dissatisfaction, often accompanied by anxiety, anger, disappointment and/or depression, following the inevitable failure of one of Philadelphia’s major sports teams, especially after a period of extreme optimism based on performance.
You saw it here first.
An example of the “extreme optimism” would be Kevin Millwood’s 2003 no-hitter, the second and last no-hitter at Veterans Stadium, and the last to see the light of day in Philadelphia. It’s one of those times when you remember where you were.
Damon’s Restaurant. Dinner with the family, watching the game on the jumbo screen across from our table. They were out of salmon that day. My mother wasn’t happy, but that was covered only by her anxiousness and nauseousness during Millwood’s ninth inning.
At least we have the Philadelphia Soul. For now, at least. Because as we know, all good things come to phrustration.
Photo courtesy AP.
Pets prevail in election coverage July 8, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Random Rubbish.Tags: 2008 Presidential Race, Barack Obama, John McCain, Journalism, Pets
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Deadline’s fast approaching. Your editor tells you to write a story on the election. There’s nothing new – Obama and McCain have bored you to tears ever since the Democratic Primary ended. The election is still a few months away. The conventions haven’t even happened.
What do you do?
Contact pet associations and get their take.
That’s what the AP did. The article actually ended up in CBS3′s “News of the Strange” section. The article, which says that people who own pets will most likely vote for Sen. McCain, is based on an AP-Yahoo! poll.
But, it’s written like the writer was scrambling for information, for facts, for substance. And that’s where it loses me.
It’s no use to predict who’s going to be president until election night. Polling is usually flawed. I don’t care what pet lovers think. I don’t care what ice cream scoopers think. If I cared what psychics think, then I don’t anymore.
(The world’s only psychic twins, who just happen to be Temple alumnae, predicted in March that Sen. Hillary Clinton would be the next president. While that’s not fully out of the picture yet, it does seem quite unlikely.)
And we all wonder why the media get criticized so much.
Buy a gun with your refund check July 7, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Random Rubbish.Tags: Daily News, gunshots, Jill Porter, Journalism
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Yet another late post. But I don’t think Jill Porter will mind.
On a college budget, it’s difficult to read a newspaper other than the Metro (which, by the way, scared me today by being delievered folded in half, perhaps to de-emphasize the half-page ad on the front page).
But maybe I should begin rethinking my frugal ways and pick up a copy of the Daily News every now and then, mostly for Jill Porter’s or Dan Gross’ column. Maybe the occasional Inquirer will do for either Michael Klein or Karen Heller.
But back to the meat of this entry: Jill Porter suggests purchasing a gun following the recent Supreme Court ruling upholding a civilian’s right to own one. After all, owning a gun will boost the economy for everyone from a hospital nurse treating the wounded to a funeral director burying the dead.
Regardless of your political affiliation, if you are living or have lived in the City of Philadelphia – particularly in the last two to three years – gun control should be on your mind, especially in light of the 5-4 decision. Lancaster folks don’t see the need for restrictions on guns. Nor do many people who primarily use guns (other than your typical handheld revolver) for hunting and gaming.
But, let’s follow Porter’s advice. It seems like a nice way to do business for the government.
From the pump to the Wheel July 6, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase, Journalism.Tags: Humor, Journalism, Wheel of Fortune
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Apparently, rising prices aren’t just hitting the pockets of everyday Americans. Game show contestants must watch out, too.
This could be me. Last Tuesday, I auditioned to become a contestant on Wheel of Fortune. And according to this article from the well-respected Onion, I could be paying more for buying a vowel.
I survived the first cut of auditions. And now I’ll find out in about 2.5 weeks. Should I make it as a contestant, all expenses – airfare, lodging, etc. – are all on me. This vowel pinch might be worse than we all think.
So, really, the only reason I’m posting this is to talk up the Onion. It’s difficult to come up with story ideas without repeating old ones, and the Onion manages to do a pretty good job. And this is only one example.
AP scolds your lack of pop culture knowledge July 3, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase, Journalism.Tags: Angelina Jolie, Babies, Brad Pitt, Journalism
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Don’t worry. Brangelina has not yet given birth.
The Associated Press covered a French doctor’s announcement that Angelina Jolie checked into the hospital for normal baby reasons. No emergency, no pinching a baby’s bottom.
However, one small graf from the AP stood out in my mind…
“Mrs. Angelina Jolie and her husband, Mr. Brad Pitt, told me to tell you that she is doing absolutely fine,” said the doctor, apparently unaware that the actors aren’t married.
Well, excuse me. Not even I, a person who wrote an entertainment column for a year and keep up to date on the entertainment page on cnn.com, could keep track of which Hollywoodites are married and which ones aren’t.
Granted, the AP should have made a correction if they used that quote. Another solution? Don’t use that quote.
Now I’m taking much less (to no) offense to this than I may be portraying, but it’s humorous the doc made that mistake and the AP pointed it out.
The solution? If you’re dating in Hollywood, get married. That makes things easier for when you get divorced, as well. No?
Our local soap is coming to an end… June 25, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia, Random Rubbish.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Journalism, Larry Mendte
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Thank you, philly.com.
The Web site that is Philadelphia assembled for us an archive. An archive entitled “Alycia Lane in the News.”
Don’t worry. Larry’s on there, too. It might as well be called “CBS3 in the News.”
And the latest story comes from the columnist who is Philadelphia, who assembled for us her thoughts defending Alycia.
Jill Porter wrote a column that many people will laugh at. Many people won’t take it seriously. It’s questionable if she even takes it seriously.
In a nutshell, her column says that we, the news-crazed Philadelphia public, never gave Alycia a chance. Maybe she’s not the ditzy diva the Philadelphia media has made her out to be.
We ought to believe that, Porter says. But we probably won’t.
That’s because this long saga that began December 14 after an incident involving a news anchor, a New York City cop and a taxi cab (sounds like the setup for a joke) is finally coming to an end. There are only two more milestones to come – the future of Mr. Mendte’s federal investigation and the outcome of Lane’s lawsuit against KYW.
Well, unless Mendte files a wrongful termination lawsuit. But let’s pretend that’s not an option.
But these outcomes aren’t what we care about. We cared about the public destruction of two beloved news anchors – those whom we loved to watch and who will likely not be on the Philadelphia airwaves anymore.
And you know what? We’re going to miss them. I already do.
Way to go, Philadelphia.
Happier Times: a key to success June 24, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase, Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Journalism, Larry Mendte, Television
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But the big story tonight is…
Larry Kane coined a variation of that title phrase on WPVI’s Action News in the 1970s. Afterward, he moved on to KYW-TV in 1993 and retired 10 years later. His replacement?
Well…Marc Howard. He lasted at the 11 p.m. anchor desk for about eight months before moving to 4 p.m. His replacement(s)?
Larry Mendte and Alycia Lane.
It seemed like a beautiful partnership. Mendte, stolen from NBC10, and Lane, wanting cooler temps than Florida, began to liven up a recently rebranded station that had been sinking in the ratings.
I was one of those who “Made the Switch” with Mendte and meteorologist Kathy Orr. And I haven’t gone back since. CBS3 hasn’t given me reason to.
