The List...

Of course this list could go on for a longtime, but an FTVLive reader passed along a little reminder of the stupid things we hear on a newscast:

"This is a very unique situation." No explanation necessary.

"Hot water heater." It's a water heater. It heats cold water to make it hot.

"Thank you very much", "Thanks for that report" and the like. For the love of god, these people are being paid to do a job. Thanks (of any amount) isn't necessary. Biggest violator, Jeff Gorr, CBS News.

Toss from anchor to reporter, "There was a rancorous meeting at city hall tonight. Our Bill Reporterguy has the details.." Bill Reporterguy, "That's exactly right. Joe." Was Joe the anchor guessing about what Bill was going to say? Does Bill Reporterguy ever say, "No, Joe that isn't what happened at all." or "Joe, your are only half right here but you're on the right track." (And, Joe, we know Bill is yours. We see the mic flag.)

"A workman was electrocuted on the job today and is being treated for his injuries." Don't bother, the workman is dead! Has everyone forgotten that electrocution comes from "execution by electricity" Folks that are executed tell no tales.

"Terrible tragedy" Nope, not one of those good tragedies we tell you about. This one is Terrible.

When reporting a death, anything other than "died" is wrong. In polite conversation people can "pass away, meet their maker, buy the farm, etc" but in news, people die.

Speaking of that, "Dead Body". If the authorities say they found a body, rest assured, it is a dead person.

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