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Call it the case of the annoyingly overused newspaper lede

Lazy newspaper writing drives me crazy. Trite phrases, pointless thesaurus-diving … I’m getting worked up just thinking about it. We’ve covered “to be sure” and “in a wide-ranging interview,” and lately I’m incredibly bothered by the “call it” lede. Some recent examples of the “call it” lede, followed by the subject of the story:

  • Call it a case of life imitating art. (A guy obsessed with street rods.)
  • Call it a case of déjà vu. (Separate fires on consecutive days at the same apartment complex.)
  • Just call it a case of too many Chiefs and not enough Lions. (A high school football game.)
  • Call it the case of the mystery subpoena. (An attorney facing disciplinary action.)
  • Call it the case of the disappearing hedge fund manager. (Um, a disappearing hedge fund manager.)
  • Call it the case of the disgruntled Michael Vick fan. (Vick fan threatens to blow up local jails.)

Hey, I have an idea! Let’s not “call it” anything, let’s just get to the point of the stupid story already.

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  1. pat | Oct 1, 2007 | Reply

    kick … ass … post.

  2. Buffalo Scribe | Oct 1, 2007 | Reply

    Welcome to the world of newspaper writers echoing what they hear on TV news. Here’s a hint for young print journalists: Do not watch local news on television. It will do you more harm than good.

  3. William M. Hartnett | Oct 2, 2007 | Reply

    Ah, but would you “Call it a case of newspaper writers echoing what they hear on TV news?”

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