Andy, my business partner, brought a book with a range of newspaper fliers from the Evening Standard. You know the sort of thing - badly written bills that the newspapers hand out to newspaper sellers.
I've collected these for years. I always remember the conversations on various newspapers between the news editor and the chief sub-editor on what should be written on these. Most memorable was when the news editor said: "Do we call him 'dead boy' or 'bullet boy'?" To which the chief sub replied: "Well technically he's dead."
"Yes, but we're trying to sell f**king newspapers," replied the news editor.
My favourite is from the New York Post (I think):
Headless Torso Found in Topless Bar
Any more?
PS: In case you've never worked in the press - sub-editors are professional pedants.
19.9.06
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3 comments:
Very amusing!! My old CEO was a former sub... professional pedant is an understatement.
Crash plane 'too close to ground'
- report of official inquiry.
From a 'professional pedant' (and proud of it).
I might make these a regular feature - another favourite in terms of parochialism was the Aberdeen Express & Journal with the headline:
"Aberdeen man goes down in Titanic"
Another from Daily Mail in World War Two:
"German Push
Bottles Up
British Rear"
A lovely image!
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