Chris Pash's Blog, page 4

Cliche of the Week 100 – In the Driving Seat

Get in the driving seat and take control, move forward and take no prisoners.

The Americans and British enjoy being in the driving seat more than any other English-speaking area in the world, or at least it appears more often in their local news reports.

The sports pages like the phrase a lot.

They use it to describe a team or player who takes the lead and stays ahead.

Occasionally, a story will describe someone actually getting into the driving seat of a car but mostly it’s about taking control.

“Iconic car-maker Lotus has a new man in the driving seat after parting company with chief executive Dany Bahar.” (Evening News, Norwich, June 12)

“(Amy) Boulden was back in the driving seat when she won the 14th with a par three, halved the next in birdie three and then conceded the 16th to be two up with three to play.” (South Wales Echo, June 11)

“Errani was not about to let the chance to clinch the set slip by and a lovely wide serve and forehand combination put her in the driving seat.” (The Irish Examiner, June 8)

“Russia remain in the driving seat in the group with four points, going into their final match against Greece.” (Reuters News, June 13)

Cliché of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays. Clichés in the media are tracked across the world using Factiva and Dow Jones Insight.

Chris Pash’s book, The Last Whale , a true story set in the 1970s, was published by Fremantle Press in 2008.

Cliche of the Week 99 – Leaps and Bounds

It’s a leap of faith that about the only part of life not leaping and bounding is the economy.

Everything else, especially sport and even music and gardening, is quickly going ahead in leaps and bounds in news pages up to 800 times a month.

Gardening: “Since then it’s come on in leaps and bounds and her favourite features now include the acers, the arbor, the beech arch and more recently the pond, complete with goldfish and aquatic plants.” (The Scotsman, June 16)

Golf: “(Tiger) Woods also came into this tournament on the back of a victory, at the Memorial, but says his game has progressed in leaps and bounds in the two months between the first and second majors of 2012.” (The Sun, June 17)

Softball: “The team grew by leaps and bounds from the 2010 to 2012 season.” (The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 14)

Wrestling: “Over the years, though, his (Yogeshwar Dutt’s) ambition and hunger to win a medal have increased by leaps and bounds.” (The Times of India, June 17)

Politics: “The economy is still, by leaps and bounds, the top issue for voters.” (National Journal, US, June 16)

Music: “But most of all, they (The Beatles) kept expanding rock’s possibilities in leaps and bounds.” (The Windsor Star, Canada, June 4)

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays. Clichés in the media are tracked across the world using Factiva and Dow Jones Insight.

Chris Pash’s book, The Last Whale , a true story set in the 1970s, was published by Fremantle Press in 2008.

Cliche of the Week 98 – Pursue Other Interests (POO)

A rush to lifestyle, rather than corporate, decisions has seen more people abdicate roles to pursue other interests or opportunities and to spend time with the family.

They are, using a corporate corridor acronym, POO (Pursue Other Opportunities): sacked, canned, ditched or, in the Hollywood mafia sense, made an offer they can’t refuse.

They haven’t got another gig yet but have a few ideas which, hopefully, will firm into reality before the cash payout fades.

Exceptions: When Yahoo! co-founder Jerry Yang says he’s stepping down to pursue other interests, we know he’s got the cash to chase anything he likes.

Press releases pitch the ‘other interests’ reason so often that it’s surprising it doesn’t leak more into news reporting than the current several hundred times a month.

“Robert Higginson left Bolton-based Warburtons earlier this month to pursue other interests after 11 years with the household name family-owned company.” (Manchester Evening News, June 25)

“(Chris) Webb will tell the Waratahs players next week that after five seasons as manager he has decided to `move on’ and pursue other interests.” (The Sydney Morning Herald, June 23)

“He (Paul Ramadge) told staff the strategy at the company was ‘right’ and he was hoping to pursue other opportunities.” (Crikey, June 25)

“But by 1996 a desire to pursue other interests combined with a declining appetite for a high-pressure legal career.” (New York Times, June 24)

Cliché of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays. Clichés in the media are tracked across the world using Factiva and Dow Jones Insight.

Chris Pash’s book, The Last Whale , a true story set in the 1970s, was published by Fremantle Press in 2008.

Cliche of the Week 97 – Grexit

The signpost to the financial apocalypse is a Grexit where a tragic Greece exits the Euro zone stage via a bleak off ramp.

The mashed word was created by a Citigroup analyst in February, rose as a hash tag on Twitter in March and was over-loved by the media more than 160 times a week in May and June.

By comparison an Indian startup, Grexit, a system to make sense of mountains of email, has received little media coverage.

“There will be horrific volatility in the days following Grexit, but long-term investors should hold their nerve.” (Euromoney, May 31)

“Even the possibility of a “Grexit” has made people in the other Mediterranean countries nervous. The most telling sign of contagion is the deepening crisis in the Spanish banking system as depositors withdraw their money.” (Newsweek, June 18)

While Grexit is being scattered within reporting more often than linking ‘Greek’ with ‘apocalypse’, some gluttons ease both into the story.

“In the blackest scenarios, the consequences of a Grexit are cataclysmic.” (The Observer, June 18)

And later in the same article: “What makes these exercises even more scary for their participants is that they know that their war gaming is only an educated guess about the shape of the apocalypse.”

Cliché of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays. Clichés in the media are tracked across the world using Factiva and Dow Jones Insight.

Chris Pash’s book, The Last Whale , a true story set in the 1970s, was published by Fremantle Press in 2008.

Cliche of the Week 96 – Recent Memory

The worst, the most brutal, the youngest, the oldest, the biggest and the most horrific all happen in a timeframe described as in recent memory.

This is a cover-all phrase to disguise the fact that no one can recall, or be bothered to check, exactly how long ago a similar event occurred.

This inexact statement surfaces in the world up to 1200 times a month. It occurs mostly in the American press. However, it is sometimes seen in Britain and, to a lesser extent, in Australia.

“Goldman becomes the first foreign investment bank in recent memory to base its top regional banker in Beijing, as Hong Kong has historically served as the location of such a post.” (Reuters News, June 12)

“A lifeboat crew launched a daring rescue off the Suffolk coast in conditions described by one member as the worst in recent memory.” (East Anglian Daily Times, June 11)

“The kidnapping and death of Barbara J ‘Bobbie’ ‘ Bosworth, abducted from Springfield Mall in 2008, was one of the most horrific incidents in this region in recent memory.” (The Washington Post, June 10)

“In April, an Oregon business delegation attracted 73 companies, more than any other state group in recent memory, to a Tokyo seminar.” (The Oregonian, June 10)

Cliché of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays. Clichés in the media are tracked across the world using Factiva and Dow Jones Insight.

Chris Pash’s book, The Last Whale , a true story set in the 1970s, was published by Fremantle Press in 2008.

Cliche of the Week 95 – Hope Springs Eternal

Despite snapping credit cards, fading early retirement, extinct home equity, the relentless march of the approaching fiscal apocalypse and the death of the long lunch, hope springs eternal.

Man’s chest-bursting optimism surfaces, in news reports and headlines shaded by thriving pessimism, about 100 times a month worldwide.

Sometimes, this hope is more tongue inserted in cheek than a serious attempt to prove life will get better.

“Despite the potential for gloomy conditions, hope springs eternal in the fishing community and calm seas will find plenty of kingfish.” (Florida Today, May 25)

“Still, hope springs eternal that Europe’s politicians and the IMF will swoop to Greece’s rescue.” (Business Times Singapore, May 21)

On current TV programming: “Everything has that new-show smell. All the pilots are beautiful, and hope springs eternal.” (The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 19)

“Hope springs eternal when it comes to efforts to save the euro.” (The Telegraph, London, April 27)

“At the outset of the Ulster senior football championship, hope springs eternal. Optimism abounds as teams set out in the quest for a title that for some is a regular achievement and for others an elusive goal.” (The Belfast Telegraph, May 17)

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays. Cliches in the media are tracked across the world using Factiva and Dow Jones Insight.

Chris Pash’s book, The Last Whale , a true story set in the 1970s, was published by Fremantle Press in 2008.

Cliche of the Week 94 – Minor Miracles

The laws of nature get twisted by supernatural intervention several times a day to produce miracles of the minor kind.

Whether these are minor or major miracles is a matter for debate. Strictly speaking a miracle is a miracle, neither large nor small, with the wonder in the event, not the scale.

Journalism, which reports minor miracles up to 140 times a month around the world, needs no ecclesiastical authority to proclaim such events.

“And so it came to pass that, with a little auspicious planning, careful shopping and an eye trained firmly on budget, we pulled off another minor miracle.” (Toronto Star, May 26)

“(Paul) Lambert, 42, has performed a minor miracle since taking charge at the Norfolk club in August 2009, masterminding successive promotions up from . . . League One and then comfortably securing top-flight status with a respectable 12th-place finish.” (Western Daily Press, May 22)

“Moreover, his nearest rival, Scott McLaren, trails several hundred points behind and, aged 30, needs a minor miracle to make up so much ground.” (Bay of Plenty Times, May 21)

“That a man in his middle 70s is still making vibrant music and touring is a minor miracle.” (Buffalo News, May 18)

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays. Cliches in the media are tracked across the world using Factiva and Dow Jones Insight.

Chris Pash’s book, The last Whale , a true story set in the 1970s, was published by Fremantle Press in 2008.

Cliche of the Week 93 – Poster Child

Facebook was the radiant poster child of the business of social media until a falling share price slapped it in the face.

The phrase poster child appears in news reports about 600 times a month with America having more than its fair share.

Locally, there are only about 20 poster children a month, well behind North America’s tally.

“As it completes one of the largest initial public offerings ever, Facebook is being held up as the poster child for many things for a new era of social media, for a new way advertisers can reach consumers, and for start-ups that stay cool even as their founders become billionaires.” (Toronto’s The Globe and Mail, May 17.)

“The poster child of mobile banking is Kenya, where some 14 million people now save and send money using M-Pesa, a telephone-based banking system.” (The Economist, May 19.)

Not all uses are positive: “Seven years ago, the nation’s eighth-largest city (San Diego) was a poster child for fiscal mismanagement.” (The Associated Press, May 11.)

And a story about a pregnant woman given 50,000-volt shocks with a taser gun for refusing to sign a speeding ticket: “It has turned Ms (Malaika) Brooks into a poster child for police brutality.” (The Independent, May 18.)

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays. Cliches in the media are tracked across the world using Factiva and Dow Jones Insight.

Chris Pash’s book, The Last Whale, a true story set in the 1970s, was published by Fremantle Press in 2008.

Cliche of the Week 92 – Speculation is Rife

Rampant gossip and rumour drive the mists of speculation to the point that it gathers form in the real world and cannot be ignored by news pages.

The economy, politics and the world in general produce stories that begin with speculation is rife, which is code for everyone knows but no one will go on record.

Globally, speculation of the rife kind is reported about 150 times a month with newspapers in India leading the pack.

Sport: “Spurs boss Levy fought a protracted battle with Chelsea last year to keep star playmaker Luka Modric at White Hart Lane and speculation is rife that the Croatian and winger Bale will be the subject of strong interest again this summer.” (South Wales Echo, May 14)

“The Pune owners have made it clear that they want (Sourav) Ganguly as mentor next season, and after his decision to ‘rest’ himself in the previous match, speculation is rife that he may have played his last match for the franchise.” (Hindustan Times, May 13)

“(Prime Minister) Najib is trying to woo voters back to his ruling National Front coalition, which has governed Malaysia since independence in 1957, and speculation is rife that he could call polls as early as June.” (Agence France-Presse, May 1)

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays. Cliches in the media are tracked across the world using Factiva and Dow Jones Insight.

Chris Pash’s book, The Last Whale, a true story set in the 1970s, was published by Fremantle Press in 2008.

Cliche of the Week 91 – Cautiously optimistic

Cautiously optimistic is a backside-covering statement, a bet both ways, and used when no one is sure what’s going to happen.

If the future goes well then the optimism is justified. If badly, being cautious was prudent.

The phrase is a frequent visitor to the finance news pages, about 1500 times a month globally, where companies attempt positive sentiment.

It appears more often in the US than any other country and flows quickly, and apparently unseen, from press release to news story.

Sometimes there are quote marks around the two words, indicating they are not stated by the newspaper but come from the company.

“The Dutch food and chemicals group DSM on Tuesday reported better-than-expected first-quarter results and gave a cautiously optimistic outlook for the full year” (Reuters News, May 8).

“Today, key players are cautiously optimistic about the progress the market made last year and about what lies ahead, despite the uncertainties that Europe’s wobbly economies still pose” (The New Zealand Herald, May 9).

And in press releases: “The cost reduction program for our fibre laser product portfolio is on track and we are cautiously optimistic, given the current booking trend with strong order entry in February and March” (Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc, May 3).

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays. Cliches in the media are tracked across the world using Factiva and Dow Jones Insight.

Chris Pash’s book, The Last Whale, a true story set in the 1970s, was published by Fremantle Press in 2008.