Home
Refresh   Tag(s): ; ; ; ; ; ;
Add to My Group
November 27, 2008 at 14:16:29

Funny 1   Interesting 1   View Ratings | Rate It

10 INDISPENSABLE BROADCAST JOURNALIST'S WORDS/PHRASES

by Vince Williams     Page 1 of 2 page(s)

www.opednews.com

Tell A Friend

For all those contemplating a career (however brief or cursory) in television journalism, and for anyone entertaining the prospect of undergoing being interviewed, there are ten words/phrases you simply must know and have at the ready.  In fact, you should grapple them to your soul with hoops of steel, so much so that everyone populating your dreamscape during slumber time tosses them in sans shame or shyness.

Be advised, these are not optional or open to personal whim or whether; they are absolutes and are to broadcast journalists and their interviewees what plumber’s putty is to Joe the Plumber (and, for that matter, what Joe the Plumber is to Sarah Palin’s campaign for anything).

And so, without further preamble (or ado), here they are:

1.      “LOOK” [This is an all-purpose word you must drop in (as inconspicuously and naturally as possible), sometimes twice in the same sentence.  It serves to direct attention to what might follow, and sounds like you know what you’re talking about even though you don’t.]

2.      “YOU KNOW”  [A meaningless phrase that can help give you a fleeting second of think time for your next meaningless, but important-sounding, item of information.  While not used as frequently as “Look”, it can help give “Look” a rest so you’ll sound like you’re armed with more of these empty journalist expressions than just one.]

3.      “THAT BEING SAID” [Very useful to impress the viewer with the promise and expectation of Harvard erudition, this phrase nevertheless should be used somewhat guardedly: always take care not to use it before you’ve said something, and try to follow the phrase with something that is either totally unrelated, or has a surprise connection to that being said.

4.      “CLEARLY” [This word is best used when you know absolutely nothing about the topic, but you know you have to say something or lose your job.  It just sounds good and has the power of transforming a village idiot into a prima agnomina.]

5.      “NOW” [Used purely as a filler word and not to mean “at the present time”, this word has the ability to sound folksy and local.  Employed by journalists who hope to be your friend, it can invite a listener to tune in again as in the example “Now, the tornado blew through the small community and demolished some fifty homes.”  Doesn’t that sound just like Uncle Ron or Aunt Alma?]

6.      “STAY WITH US” [Here’s a phrase, generally used after a teaser, that hopes you’ll not mute the sound of the next four commercials that help pay the journalist’s salary.]

7.      “WHEN WE COME BACK” [This phrase intros a teaser which needs to include either an unsolved mystery or the beginning of some dynamic story whose ending when we do come back may be generally a disappointment (but that’s ok since you’ve watched the intervening commercials).]

8.      “THANKS FOR …

… YOUR INPUT”  [A pleasantry which, when decoded, means “You’re done, buster; now shutup.”]

… YOUR EXPERTISE” [One step up from “… your input” and, when decoded, means “What in the hell did you just say?”]

… HAVING ME” [The way an interviewee can thank a journalist host for making it sound like I didn’t know that Africa was a continent.  (I have since been told otherwise.)]

… BEING WITH US”  [A signoff to the audience for this segment.  This is code for “Now, you’ll have to put up with my replacement who’ll pick it up in the next hour.  As for me, I’m gonna go home, kick back and have a glass of wine.  Maybe two.”]

9.      “LET’S TALK TO …” or “WE TURN NOW TO …” [This is the approved way to throw it to a location reporter or a network “analyst” while you floss your teeth or replace your earpiece so you can hear your producer help you with the pronunciation of “Achmadinejad”, Zimbabwe,  or some other name or word.]

Next Page  1  |  2

 

I was born when I was yet quite young, and was second-born in a litter of two. My twin sister and I are not now, nor have we ever been, identical as evidenced by our differing balding patterns: she has very little facial hair. If you look us (more...)
 

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

Contact Author Contact Editor View Authors' Articles

 

Book Recommendations for "Broadcasting Journalism"
Law for Advertising, Broadcasting, Journalism, and Public Relations: A Comprehensive Text for Students and Practitioners (Lea's Communication Series)
by Michael G. Parkinson

$79.95
Lowest New Price $66.56

Number of pages: 528
Publisher: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates

Starting Your Career in Broadcasting: Working On and Off the Air in Radio and Television
by Chris Schneider

$19.95
Lowest New Price $11.41

Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Allworth Press

More U.S.-style news north of the border. (American influence on Canadian broadcasting): An article from: American Journalism Review
by Lou Prato

$5.95

Number of pages: 3
Publisher: University of Maryland

A History of the Oklahoma State University School of Journalism and Broadcasting (Centennial Histories Series)
by Harry E. Heath

$18.95
Lowest New Price $19.99

Number of pages: 568
Publisher: Oklahoma State University Press

View All Book Recommendations

Share this page: (what's this?)                   Tell a Friend: Tell A Friend

FACEBOOK      DIGG THIS      Add This Page to Mr Wong!           NEWSVINE      DEl.ICIO.US      Looksmart Furl      NETSCAPE      My Web      Tag!RawSugar      Blink List     (More...)
Comments: Expand   Shrink   Hide  
2 comments


Good article...

The catchphrases are eggzaktly as described. Designed to suck a person into that giant black hole of continued listening.

by Matthew Peters (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 171 comments [4 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Nov 28, 2008 at 2:33:59 PM

Recommend  (0+)

Media Mesmerization

Anyone who has studied the principles of conversational hypnosis is absolutely clear that phrases like these are used to induce trance in the audience, put them into an altered state and then insert suggestive images, ideas and beliefs. If you doubt this, you will simply be entranced and will not be able to escape the propaganda machine. The antitode is to turn off the TV and the radio and start to re-take ownership of your own mind. Challenge everything you see and hear, look for facts and become able to detect "stories" that are simply lies. Wake yourself up and learn to gently wake up others. And beware, because sleeping dogs, when disturbed from their dreams, tend to attack.

by Abraham007 (6 articles, 36 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 54 comments) on Saturday, Nov 29, 2008 at 12:17:26 AM

Recommend  (0+)

 
Want to post your own comment on this Article? Post Comment


 

Most Popular Articles
in the Last 2 Days
(by Recommend Emails)

South Africa Woolworth's Removes Aspartame by Stephen Fox

Rothschild's Federal Reserve Must Be Abolished by Allen L Roland

Photo Essay: Thoughts for the Fourth of July: Talking the Talk and Walking the Walk for Peace by Mac McKinney

Health Insurance Exec Whistleblower Wendell Potter Testifies Before Congress by Wendell Potter

Tennessee's Law Allowing Guns in Bars Doesn't Go Far Enough by Grant Lawrence

Israeli Embassy Correspondence Concerning Spirit of Humanity Capture Clarifies Centuries of Conflict by Meryl Ann Butler

McKinney Relocated from Israeli Prison by Meryl Ann Butler

Dept. of State Spokesman Addresses McKinney's Capture by Meryl Ann Butler

Torture on the 4th of July by Lawrence Gist

Our Nation has a Great Deal to Learn from Phillip Butler about Morality, Law, and Torture by Lawrence Gist

Go To Top 50 Most Popular

 

Tell a Friend: Tell A Friend

Copyright © 2002-2009, OpEdNews

Powered by Populum