Headlines
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:18 pm
You Wouldn’t Read About it
Passive objectivity is the goal of good newspaper reporting but these gems
from the British press show it can sometimes mask the ridiculous;
1. Commenting on a complaint from a Mr. Arthur Purdey about a large gas
bill, a spokesman for North West Gas said, "We agree it was rather high for
the time of year. It's possible Mr.Purdey has been charged for the gas used
up during the explosion that destroyed his house." (The Daily Telegraph)
2. Irish police are being handicapped in a search for a stolen van, because
they cannot issue a description. It's a Special Branch vehicle and they
don't want the public to know what it looks like. (The Guardian)
3. A young girl who was blown out to sea on a set of inflatable teeth was
rescued by a man on an inflatable lobster. A coast guard spokesman
commented, "This sort of thing is all too common". (The Times)
4. At the height of the gale, the harbourmaster radioed a coastguard and
asked him to estimate the wind speed.He replied he was sorry, but he didn't
have a gauge. However, if it was any help,the wind had just blown his Land
Rover off the cliff. (Aberdeen Evening Express)
5. Mrs. Irene Graham of Thorpe Avenue, Boscombe, delighted the audience with
her reminiscence of the German prisoner of war who was sent each week to do
her garden. He was repatriated at the end of 1945, she recalled. "He'd
always seemed a nice friendly chap, but when the crocuses came up in the
middle of our lawn in February 1946, they spelt out 'Heil Hitler.'"
(Bournemouth Evening Echo
Passive objectivity is the goal of good newspaper reporting but these gems
from the British press show it can sometimes mask the ridiculous;
1. Commenting on a complaint from a Mr. Arthur Purdey about a large gas
bill, a spokesman for North West Gas said, "We agree it was rather high for
the time of year. It's possible Mr.Purdey has been charged for the gas used
up during the explosion that destroyed his house." (The Daily Telegraph)
2. Irish police are being handicapped in a search for a stolen van, because
they cannot issue a description. It's a Special Branch vehicle and they
don't want the public to know what it looks like. (The Guardian)
3. A young girl who was blown out to sea on a set of inflatable teeth was
rescued by a man on an inflatable lobster. A coast guard spokesman
commented, "This sort of thing is all too common". (The Times)
4. At the height of the gale, the harbourmaster radioed a coastguard and
asked him to estimate the wind speed.He replied he was sorry, but he didn't
have a gauge. However, if it was any help,the wind had just blown his Land
Rover off the cliff. (Aberdeen Evening Express)
5. Mrs. Irene Graham of Thorpe Avenue, Boscombe, delighted the audience with
her reminiscence of the German prisoner of war who was sent each week to do
her garden. He was repatriated at the end of 1945, she recalled. "He'd
always seemed a nice friendly chap, but when the crocuses came up in the
middle of our lawn in February 1946, they spelt out 'Heil Hitler.'"
(Bournemouth Evening Echo
