Comments on: (Mis?)-Describing offences in the newspapers http://www.lawfont.com/2007/02/06/mis-describing-offences-in-the-newspapers/ an analysis of law, technology, economics, and policy Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:59:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: KMS http://www.lawfont.com/2007/02/06/mis-describing-offences-in-the-newspapers/comment-page-1/#comment-17858 KMS Mon, 19 Feb 2007 04:25:25 +0000 http://www.lawfont.com/2007/02/06/mis-describing-offences-in-the-newspapers/#comment-17858 Kenneth and a.dubya - thanks for clearing that up. I still don't understand, however, why the journalists cannot rephrase the charges in grammatically correct form, or be informed enough about what they are reporting to describe them in plain English. Kenneth and a.dubya – thanks for clearing that up. I still don’t understand, however, why the journalists cannot rephrase the charges in grammatically correct form, or be informed enough about what they are reporting to describe them in plain English.

]]> By: a.dubya http://www.lawfont.com/2007/02/06/mis-describing-offences-in-the-newspapers/comment-page-1/#comment-17219 a.dubya Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:53:44 +0000 http://www.lawfont.com/2007/02/06/mis-describing-offences-in-the-newspapers/#comment-17219 The language comes from the short title of offences used on Police briefs. eg the charge will be typed out in full and above it on the brief will appear the section of the relevant legeslative source of the offence and its short title. My bet is that the journalist asks the proscutor if he can read over the police brief (for accuracy) then publishes what the charge is. That way they cannot be subject of criticism for getting the charge wrong. The language comes from the short title of offences used on Police briefs. eg the charge will be typed out in full and above it on the brief will appear the section of the relevant legeslative source of the offence and its short title.

My bet is that the journalist asks the proscutor if he can read over the police brief (for accuracy) then publishes what the charge is. That way they cannot be subject of criticism for getting the charge wrong.

]]> By: Paul Donley http://www.lawfont.com/2007/02/06/mis-describing-offences-in-the-newspapers/comment-page-1/#comment-16905 Paul Donley Tue, 13 Feb 2007 21:25:52 +0000 http://www.lawfont.com/2007/02/06/mis-describing-offences-in-the-newspapers/#comment-16905 UH.. Lazy journalism? Unprofessionalism? Piss-poor editors? Low standards in editorial policy? If the goal of journalism is to inform, these examples fail. These terms confuse, not inform. This isn't really a legal question. It's a journalistic issue. UH.. Lazy journalism? Unprofessionalism?
Piss-poor editors?
Low standards in editorial policy?

If the goal of journalism is to inform, these examples fail. These terms confuse, not inform.

This isn’t really a legal question. It’s a journalistic issue.

]]> By: Kenneth Nguyen http://www.lawfont.com/2007/02/06/mis-describing-offences-in-the-newspapers/comment-page-1/#comment-15956 Kenneth Nguyen Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:05:26 +0000 http://www.lawfont.com/2007/02/06/mis-describing-offences-in-the-newspapers/#comment-15956 To this journalist, it would seem that AAP is writing its stories using the language of police spokesmen and spokeswomen, who in turn are speaking to journalists using workplace shorthand-terms. To this journalist, it would seem that AAP is writing its stories using the language of police spokesmen and spokeswomen, who in turn are speaking to journalists using workplace shorthand-terms.

]]> By: KMS http://www.lawfont.com/2007/02/06/mis-describing-offences-in-the-newspapers/comment-page-1/#comment-15819 KMS Tue, 06 Feb 2007 02:54:22 +0000 http://www.lawfont.com/2007/02/06/mis-describing-offences-in-the-newspapers/#comment-15819 A curious practice indeed. Since they're writing for a general audience, why not just use plain English? *sighs at continuing decline of journalistic standards* A curious practice indeed. Since they’re writing for a general audience, why not just use plain English? *sighs at continuing decline of journalistic standards*

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