In a surprise move, folks at Chicago-based Tribune Co. are reportedly reeling in the wake of news that CEO Randy Michaels has banned, literally, some 119 words and phrases from being used on-air at his company's flagship radio station, WGN.
Going forward, area residents are less at risk of hearing such cliched phrases as "perfect storm" and "behind closed doors" on the news talk station's airwaves, although the fact of the matter is the list of 119 that cannot be utilized includes such common words as "alleged," "authorities" and "officials."
Sixteen of the banned words or phrases appeared in the first two sentences of this story.
I'd find it hard to run an ESL news blog without the word "officials".
In this, for example, the official was actually the Assistant U.S. Trustee. If I used that mouthful of a title, I'd have to explain it to my audience -- and they don't really need to know what it means. They just need to know that someone in a responsible position at the courthouse tried to stop this swindler.
Sorry -- this alleged swindler.
What would I do without "alleged"? Or "accused of"? Or "the charge says"?
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