A Way With Words
The Word Collector (part 8)
As readers of previous efforts will be aware, I love collecting new words and phrases. Many of this collection come from an excellent book about the deficiencies of the printed media, in the excellent “Flat Earth News : An Award-winning Reporter Exposes Falsehood, Distortion and Propaganda in the Global Media” ” by Nick Davies.
This is something of a revelation, but also depressing about the state of modern media, which has been captured by moguls with little interest in the truth or moral practice.
Basement - journo slang for the story at the bottom of the page
Nib -journo slang for “news in brief”
byline – a byline on a newspaper or magazine article gives the name of the writer of the article. Bylines are commonly placed between the headline and the text of the article, although some magazines place bylines at the bottom of the page to leave more room for graphical elements around the headline.
The smilies – derogatory journo slang for stories to make people feel good
Churnalism - journalism of a type that is based on the repetition or reuse of material obtained from sources such as press releases or syndicated news reports, rather than original research.
Stringer - In journalism, a stringer is a freelance journalist, photographer, or videographer who contributes reports, photos, or videos to a news organization on an ongoing basis but is paid individually for each piece of published or broadcast work.
Palimpsest - a manuscript or piece of writing material on which later writing has been superimposed on effaced earlier writing; something reused or altered but still bearing visible traces of its earlier form.
Samizdat – the clandestine copying and distribution of literature banned by the state, especially formerly in the communist countries of eastern Europe.
Gadarene - involving or engaged in a headlong or potentially disastrous rush to do something.
Patina - a green or brown film on the surface of bronze or similar metals, produced by oxidation over a long period; a gloss or sheen on a surface resulting from age or polishing; the impression or appearance of something.
As always, thank you for reading.
I learned about patina when I was learning to make the rosary