Tuesday, June 7, 2016

What Part of the Body?

The headline says: “Visalia Homeowner Shoots Intruder In the Backyard.” What part of the body is that? Some of the headlines I see are comical, because the headline writer doesn't think about what the headline sounds like. In this case, the item doesn't say where the bullet actually entered the intruder's body. The homeowner actually shot the intruder somewhere else, but he did it in his back yard. Apparently, they didn't think that information was important enough to report. This is “sloppy reporting,” and it is common. I've never been involved in something that made the papers where the paper didn't get it wrong. It's so common that most people don't even think about it. One notable headline I remember is this: “The cops shot a fleeing criminal in the street.” Right. I'm sure his street will hurt for a long time. Editors should read over their headlines to see what they sound like. (Fresno Bee)

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