Over active Action Verbs

Good news reporting on any topic dictates that a writer should not impose his/her personal views on readers.  As  Bill Moyers once said, “A journalist is basically a chronicler, not an interpreter of events.”  Straying from that path puts a reporter on the road to “sensationalist journalism”.  To insure that the tenants of good journalism are met, a news article must be  written clearly and concisely using simple words.

In the past month I have read articles in the soap rags er mags with an overabundance of  “action verbs” .  Action verbs imply just that:  action.  I can’t imagine any situation in an interview where the following action verbs apply:

• Zamprogna winces
• Grahn sighs

Zamprogna winces? Seriously? Really?  Besides conjuring up visions of Senor Wences what kind of question would elicit such a strong response on the part of the interviewee?  People wince they’re hurt  or when they are deflecting something.   More appropriate verbs might be:  Zamprogna asserts, states, replies, shares…  you know, an action that might actually occur during an interview.

Grahn sighs?  Come on! People sigh when they’re  mourning or  yearning over something or expel their last breath. I can’t even remember the last time I sighed.  It was probably over a piece of chocolate cake in the grocery store or watching a Youtube video about kittens. But during an interview when you are discussing your next story arc?  More appropriate verbs might be: Grahn replies, responds, acknowledges, affirms or stresses.

So Soap rags er I mean mags, stick to the basics and stop pummulting (how’s that for an action verb?) me with these inappropriate action verbs!

Keeping it real!

Ca ‘Shay

Soap Pund-Idiots

Holla peeps its me Ca’Shay. This is my first blog so go easy on girl friend.   I hope ya’ll had a happy holiday. I sure did. My New Year’s resolution? Keeping it real. Here goes:

1. Did you ever notice that soap bloggers and even some Soap magazines print letters and editorials that match exactly with what their reps tweet on twitter? Makes you go hmmmm doesn’t it?

2. What do soap pundits know more than you do? NOTHING. The stuff they push is their opinions which they flap around like some men do with a certain part of their anatomy. Don’t put too much on it.  You can be a soap pund-idiot too. Just start a blog. It’s not an exclusive club.

3. Soap Pund-idiots make grandiose claims like they speak for viewers.  When they say a soap is out of touch with viewers they mean THEM.  They can’t speak for all viewers. They certainly don’t speak for me! And I’m a viewer.

4. Best and worst lists.  What is the criteria for making a pund-idiots best and worst list (which are all over the place now as the year draws to a close?)  It’s not rocket science.  It’s what they like.  And what does that mean? Umm NOTHING.

That’s enough reality for today peeps. Talk to you soon.