WHEN SAM ZELL, the owner of the Tribune newspapers, cursed at an Orlando Sentinel staff photographer last week, the Los Angeles Times (another Tribune paper) wrote that Zell threw a "two-word obscenity" at her. A "two-word obscenity?" How lame is that?
Now, an LA Times writer is saying that the paper should reflect the ownership.
Contributing editor Arellano wrote:
Hey, Zell: I hear you love to curse. How about making this paper reflect your saltiness, you (same word Zell uses to insult reporters, no doubt appreciated by him, but that can't appear in the Los Angeles Times -- yet)?
Should newspapers and broadcast news outlets start running curse words as people use them? Or do we have a deeper responsibility to the public?
17 comments:
publish the curses! or at least put
F**k in there or something. personally i think our deeper responsibilty is to publish what actually happened, the NEWS, not a reference to what some rich asshole said. now, you can't hate the LA times writer who did not blast his boss, since Zell owns his newspaper, but i think journalists should publish obscenities.
I agree, I think obscenities should be published, especially if they add to the power and appeal of the story. Sometimes curse words are needless in quotes but other times they really take the quote to the next level. I say publish the swears, if people have a huge problem with them then just star out a couple letters.
I agree, I think obscenities should be published, especially if they add to the power and appeal of the story. Sometimes curse words are needless in quotes but other times they really take the quote to the next level. I say publish the swears, if people have a huge problem with them then just star out a couple letters.
Chill, I don't think newspapers and broadcasters should start printing and taping curse words. It's bad for business, bad for the country, bad for the future of this nation. Society will open a door for an ugly, unwanted precedent. Besides, that is unprofessional, I mean you can have an opinion, but who wants to hear you cursing? It’s unnecessary. There is and should always be responsibly to the public. This shameless man has obviously no interest in the well being of the nation; in fact this dude IS the pimp that David Shuster was talking about in the previous paragraph; money being his only concern. Why can’t we poke fun at this guy instead ?
fuck yea
It would totally offensive if newspapers start publishing curse words. That would be very unprofessional and tacky, especially towards our elders who read newspapers and watch the news.
People should be encouraged to publish the exact words said in these sort of cases. I mena, it isnt exactly hard to deduce what sh*t f*ck actually is. That, and knowing what was actually said in cases will actually sway opinion every now and again. Personally speaking, I curse like a f*ckin sailor, but Id like to believe most of america doesnt, and would feel differently if they read what was being said.
Do we really want newspapers and broadcasts to become like rap videos?
I don't.
Why do you need curse words to get your feelings and point across? If you are a good journalist, you should be able to do that already, don't try to use curse words as a crutch. We don't need the papers or TV to start sounding like the teenagers of this country.
How will that make other countries think of us? Most already think we suck, yeah guys, lets fuel the fire, huh?
I mean I curse along with almost every other teen I know, but I don't want or need to hear it from the papers. And as a journalist, I would never use them.
Kudos to Arellano. His article isn't calling for writers to use so-called obscene words in their stories as part of their own, personal language, but rather when an important quote contains the word. It is an entirely different issue than I think most people are making it out to be here, and he's right.
After all, we can't be completely objective if forced to explain someone else's words, yeah?
Curse words add to the power, and, to sound incredible cheesy, "oommph" of a story when they are used tastefully. I don't see a problem with publishing curse words as long as they aren't just thrown in there for the hell of it. Some papers will use them in certain stories, and, if I remember correctly, one of George Miller's articles in a recent issue of Philadelphia Weekly included the "f-word." And if I think even harder about it, I think it was used in a great way-it might even have been the end of the article.
George Miller is not a role model.
But you are right - it was the last line in a story about media giants cutting staffs to make higher profit margins at newspapers. A staffer at the Metro ended a conversation with me by muttering, "Fucking corporations."
So I used that at the end of the story.
But that story was printed in an alternative weekly, which is geared toward a youth audience. When I worked at the Daily News, I couldn't even slip in an occasional "ass" into a story (like dumbass, etc).
Traditional dailies and broadcast outlets generally will not publish/ air so-called obscenities.
- George (the #!%#!! teacher)
Absolutely publish the swearing. They're just words and help to accurately project the emotion, attitude, and personality of the person speaking. However, swearing does kind of make people seem unintelligent.
Curse words are just words so in that sense they should be allowed but at the same time they are over used and have lost any meaning they once had. This country is already filled with cursing why make it worse by adding it to our news.
I, for one, don't want to hear my information source using crude language to relay information to me.
Seriously. How about we don't start publishing curse words and desensitizing our youth more than they already have been. I don't want my kids reading curse words in newspapers or magazines. Curse words are meant to be offensive and they have harsh meanings that I do not want to hear when walking by the elementary school playground. It is absolutely ridiculous to think that we no longer need to shelter the young from the harsh language that adults use. Let's try to preserve some innocence.
Don’t believe one optimistic word from any public figure about the economy or humanity in general. They are all part of the problem. Its like a game of Monopoly. In America, the richest 1% now hold 1/2 OF ALL UNITED STATES WEALTH. Unlike ‘lesser’ estimates, this includes all stocks, bonds, cash, and material assets held by America’s richest 1%. Even that filthy pig Oprah acknowledged that it was at about 50% in 2006. Naturally, she put her own ‘humanitarian’ spin on it. Calling attention to her own ‘good will’. WHAT A DISGUSTING HYPOCRITE SLOB. THE RICHEST 1% HAVE LITERALLY MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. Don’t fall for any of their ‘humanitarian’ CRAP. ITS A SHAM. THESE PEOPLE ARE CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEMS THEY PRETEND TO CARE ABOUT. Ask any professor of economics. Money does not grow on trees. The government can’t just print up more on a whim. At any given time, there is a relative limit to the wealth within ANY economy of ANY size. So when too much wealth accumulates at the top, the middle class slip further into debt and the lower class further into poverty. A similar rule applies worldwide. The world’s richest 1% now own over 40% of ALL WORLD WEALTH. This is EVEN AFTER you account for all of this ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS from celebrities and executives. ITS A SHAM. As they get richer and richer, less wealth is left circulating beneath them. This is the single greatest underlying cause for the current US recession. The middle class can no longer afford to sustain their share of the economy. Their wealth has been gradually transfered to the richest 1%. One way or another, we suffer because of their incredible greed. We are talking about TRILLIONS of dollars. Transfered FROM US TO THEM. Over a period of about 27 years. Thats Reaganomics for you. The wealth does not ‘trickle down’ as we were told it would. It just accumulates at the top. Shrinking the middle class and expanding the lower class. Causing a domino effect of socio-economic problems. But the rich will never stop. They will never settle for a reasonable share of ANYTHING. They will do whatever it takes to get even richer. Leaving even less of the pie for the other 99% of us to share. At the same time, they throw back a few tax deductable crumbs and call themselves ‘humanitarians’. IT CAN’T WORK THIS WAY. Any 'humanitarian' progress made in one area will be lost in another. EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK THIS WAY. This is going to end just like a game of Monopoly. The current US recession will drag on for years and lead into the worst US depression of all time. The richest 1% will live like royalty while the rest of us fight over jobs, food, and gasoline. Crime, poverty, and suicide will skyrocket. So don’t fall for all of this PR CRAP from Hollywood, Pro Sports, and Wall Street PIGS. ITS A SHAM. Remember: They are filthy rich EVEN AFTER their tax deductable contributions. Greedy pigs. Now, we are headed for the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time. SEND A “THANK YOU” NOTE TO YOUR FAVORITE MILLIONAIRE. ITS THEIR FAULT. I’m not discounting other factors like China, sub-prime, or gas prices. But all of those factors combined still pale in comparison to that HUGE transfer of wealth to the rich. Anyway, those other factors are all related and further aggrivated because of GREED. If it weren’t for the OBSCENE distribution of wealth within our country, there never would have been such a market for sub-prime to begin with. Which by the way, was another trick whipped up by greedy bankers and executives. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. The credit industry has been ENDORSED by people like Oprah, Ellen, Dr Phil, and many other celebrities. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. Now, there are commercial ties between nearly every industry and every public figure. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for their ‘good will’ BS. ITS A LIE. If you fall for it, then you’re a fool. If you see any real difference between the moral character of a celebrity, politician, attorney, or executive, then you’re a fool. WAKE UP PEOPLE. ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. The 1% club will always say or do whatever it takes to get as rich as possible. Without the slightest regard for anything or anyone but themselves. Vioxx. Their idea. Sub-prime. Their idea. NAFTA. Their idea. Outsourcing. Their idea. The commercial lobbyist. Their idea. The multi-million dollar lawsuit. Their idea. $200 cell phone bills. Their idea. $200 basketball shoes. Their idea. $30 late fees. Their idea. $30 NSF fees. Their idea. $20 DVDs. Their idea. Subliminal advertising. Their idea. The MASSIVE campaign to turn every American into a brainwashed credit card, pharmaceutical, love-sick, celebrity junkie. Their idea. All of which concentrate the world’s wealth and resources and wreak havok on society. All of which have been CREATED AND ENDORSED by celebrities, athletes, and executives. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for their ‘ good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS. ITS A SHAM. NOTHING BUT TAX DEDUCTABLE PR CRAP. Bottom line: The richest 1% will soon tank the largest economy in the world. It will be like nothing we’ve ever seen before. and thats just the beginning. Greed will eventually tank every major economy in the world. Causing millions to suffer and die. Oprah, Angelina, Brad, Bono, and Bill are not part of the solution. They are part of the problem. EXTREME WEALTH HAS MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. WITHOUT WORLD PROSPERITY, THERE WILL NEVER BE WORLD PEACE OR ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL. Of course, the rich will throw a fit and call me a madman. Of course, their ignorant fans will do the same. You have to expect that. But I speak the truth. If you don’t believe me, then copy this entry and run it by any professor of economics or socio-economics. Then tell a friend. Call the local radio station. Re-post this entry or put it in your own words. Be one of the first to predict the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time and explain its cause. WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.
I'm hoping the above comment is not from a classmate. While I agree that Oprah, Ellen and Dr. Phil are all evil, this is not journalism-related.
Unless anyone claims the post and speaks as to how it connects to journalism, I will remove it tomorrow.
- George (the befuddled teacher)
@ betty arden - Like rap videos ? wow total generalization ... What about rap groups like tribe called quest, the roots or individuals like common, even will smith in his time ? They refrained from cursing. You obviously have no background of hip hop at all, why would you take a generalize a whole genre by a sample of what you heard ? But hey everyone has an opinion right ? You probably heard 50 cents on your friends Ipod and came to a conclusion.
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