Anyone in LA with a list like Randy's?

[Hunter]

Interesting story I saw in RBR/TVBR:

http://www.rbr.com/radio/22202.html

regarding a list of phrases that Randy Michaels, current CEO of Tribune and a former radio programmer, has sent to on air staffers with strict instructions not to use the cliches he notes on the air of WGN. Apparently in his memo, Michaels suggests that the newsspeak phrases are not how people talk, but how journalists write phrases to be read. Using such shortcuts are not relatable to the audience.

Years ago, when I was on the air, I had a sharp PD who wisely disallowed such shallow verbal shortcuts on air. Later, in sales, then management, I too espoused how the use of cliches will waste precious air time and dilute the creativity and effectivness of a spot, so while I think Randy is spot on, I can't help but wonder, if his CEO eye is off the ball and that is why Tribune has had to file BK.

He put a lot of thought into this...listed 119 - some seem to be a bit petty. Is anyone in LA enforcing such rules on their airstaff?

Here is Randy's list:
■“Flee” meaning “run away”
■“Good” or “bad” news
■“Laud” meaning “praise”
■“Seek” meaning “look for”
■“Some” meaning “about”
■“Two to one margin” . . . “Two to one” is a ratio, not a margin. A margin is measured in points. It’s not a ratio.
■“Yesterday” in a lead sentence
■“Youth” meaning “child”
■5 a.m. in the morning
■After the break
■After these commercial messages
■Aftermath
■All of you
■Allegations
■Alleged
■Area residents
■As expected
■At risk
■At this point in time
■Authorities
■Auto accident
■Bare naked
■Behind bars
■Behind closed doors
■Behind the podium (you mean lecturn) [sic]
■Best kept secret
■Campaign trail
■Clash with police
■Close proximity
■Complete surprise
■Completely destroyed, completely abolished, completely finished or any other completely redundant use
■Death toll
■Definitely possible
■Diva
■Down in (location)
■Down there
■Dubbaya when you mean double you
■Everybody (when referring to the audience)
■Eye Rack or Eye Ran
■False pretenses
■Famed
■Fatal death
■Fled on foot
■Folks
■Giving 110%
■Going forward
■Gunman, especially lone gunman
■Guys
■Hunnert when you mean hundred
■Icon
■In a surprise move
■In harm’s way
■In other news
■In the wake of (unless it’s a boating story)
■Incarcerated
■Informed sources say . . .
■Killing spree
■Legendary
■Lend a helping hand
■Literally
■Lucky to be alive
■Manhunt
■Marred
■Medical hospital
■Mother of all (anything)
■Motorist
■Mute point. (It’s moot point, but don’t say that either)
■Near miss
■No brainer
■Officials
■Our top story tonight
■Out in (location)
■Out there
■Over in
■Pedestrian
■Perfect storm
■Perished
■Perpetrator
■Plagued
■Really
■Reeling
■Reportedly
■Seek
■Senseless murder
■Shots rang out
■Shower activity
■Sketchy details
■Some (meaning about)
■Some of you
■Sources say . . .
■Speaking out
■Stay tuned
■The fact of the matter
■Those of you
■Thus
■Time for a break
■To be fair
■Torrential rain
■Touch base
■Under fire
■Under siege
■Underwent surgery
■Undisclosed
■Undocumented alien
■Unrest
■Untimely death
■Up in (location)
■Up there
■Utilize (you mean use)
■Vehicle
■We’ll be right back
■Welcome back
■Welcome back everybody
■We’ll be back
■Went terribly wrong
■We’re back
■White stuff
■World class
■You folks

 

[WTFman]

I'm afraid presenting me with such a list would result in vocal paralysis leading to vast stretches of dead air. If I had to add a quarter to the cookie jar for every violation I'd need continuous salary advances just to keep working.

 

[calguy]

With Tribune's problems you would think old Randy might have other things to worry about than word usage, especially since WGN is a very close 3rd in the PPM. I don't know how they do in the individual demos, but their 6+ ain't too shabby...

 

[Oatman]

I'll bet you could hear about 105 of those on any given night on an LA TV newscast.... And, actually Randy left out "Electrocuted to death"