Tribune company attempts to ban "newsspeak"

Randy Michaels , chief executive of US media company Tribune , which owns the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times, has banned 119 words and phrases from the troubled media company's talk radio station WGN-AM. He is attracting flak from bloggers in the US, including Robert Feder , but it seems an admirable exercise to me, even if he seems to have gone overboard in the execution. Feder slams the exercise as being "petty and insulting micromanaging of subordinates" but quotes WGN news director Charlie Meyerson, who supports the list: "The real goal here is to avoid using words that make you sound like you're reading, instead of talking — that shatter the image you're speaking knowledgeably to one person. By not using 'newsspeak,' you enhance your reputation as a communicator." The complete list is here , while National Public Radio has a bit of fun trying to fashion the banned phrases into a coherent narrative . Meanwhile, a taster of the Randy Michaels newsspeak ban list: "Flee" meaning "run away" "Yesterday" in a lead sentence 5 a.m. in the morning After the break Auto accident Bare naked Behind bars Complete surprise Death toll Definitely possible Fatal death Fled on foot Giving 110% Going forward Gunman, especially lone gunman In a surprise move Killing spree Lucky to be alive Manhunt Medical hospital Near miss Perfect storm Senseless murder Shots rang out Shower activity Time for a break Underwent surgery Undocumented alien Untimely death We're back White stuff You folks