Elements of style
I want to illustrate a point of journalistic style, using a contemporary bit of news. The point of style concerns the attribution of political party membership. Here is the correct style for reports concerning a Democrat.
A former aide to James E. McGreevey said today that he had three-way sexual trysts with the former governor and his wife before he took office, challenging Dina Matos McGreevey’s assertion that she was naive about her husband’s sexual exploits.
The aide, Theodore Pedersen, said he and the couple even had a nickname for the weekly romps, from 1999 to 2001, that typically began with dinner at T.G.I. Friday’s and ended with a threesome at McGreevey’s condo in Woodbridge.
They called them “Friday Night Specials,” according to Pedersen
NJ.com’s style is impeccable.
Now I will take the same clip, and illustrate the proper attribution had Governor McGreevey been a Republican (he was not).
A former aide to Republican James E. McGreevey said today that he had three-way sexual trysts with the former Republican governor and his wife before he took office, challenging Dina Matos McGreevey’s assertion that she was naive about her husband’s sexual exploits.
The aide, Republican Theodore Pedersen, said he and the couple even had a nickname for the weekly romps, from 1999 to 2001, that typically began with dinner at T.G.I. Friday’s and ended with a threesome at Republican McGreevey’s condo in Woodbridge.
They called them “Republican Friday Night Specials,” according to Pedersen.
Blinking fonts, though discouraged, are not technically incorrect.
Posted on March 17th, 2008 by pwyll
Filed under: humor, politics
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I scoured CNNs website on the Spitzer debacle. Nowhere did it mention his party. I therefore correctly concluded he was a dem.
CCL,
I’ve given up on CNN — it’s models reading quasi-news these days. Gimme The News Hour with Jim Lehrer and the BBC anyday.
pwyll,
Dry wit at it’s finest. Fine job.