Chris Pash's Blog, page 9

Cliche of the Week 53 – Race against time

A ticking clock is a tested method of adding tension and suspense to a story, while a "race against time", a quick way to add urgency to a sticky situation, appears to be in greater use lately.

A While "Ticking clock" is used sparingly, around 70 times a month, the more popular "race against time" pops up about 600 times a month in mainstream reporting compared with 400 two years ago.

A race is desperate when lives are at stake, but most races against time are no more critical to survival than the outcome of a sporting fixture.

"Experts are in a desperate race against time to find the source of the most lethal E.coli outbreak in history." (The Daily Mirror, June 4)

Book Review: "In a race against time, they battle criminals and the Chinese as they bid to beat an obsessed foe and find the missing link." (Western Daily Press, July 2)

Soccer: "Stirling keeper Callum Reidford is facing a race against time to be fit for Jocky Scott's side's opening game of the season when they face Deveronvale in the Ramsdens Cup." (Scottish Daily Record, July 4)

Cricket: "England know that they face a race against time and the weather to beat Sri Lanka in the third Test." "(The Times, June 17)

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays.

 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 52 – Far reaching

In today's new normal of a global crisis each day, you have to dig deep to find reforms and events that aren't far-reaching.

"Far-reaching" is a constant over the past two years in mainstream news reports up to 3000 times a month around the world.

The phrase creeps into news coverage from press releases blowing corporate and government trumpets about what they do or produce.

Words associated with far-reaching include reforms, consequences, shake-up and structural.

"In the end, the most far-reaching budget reform for many states would be to fix their pension systems, whose rules often govern local pensions, too." (The Wall Street Journal, June 27)

"To do this, bondholders would have to take far-reaching discounts or 'haircuts' on their bonds, the bank said." (The Irish Independent, June 27)

"The loss had several far-reaching effects; it was the team's first home loss since June 20 last year and allowed the Brisbane Strikers to jump into first spot." (Sunshine Coast Daily, June 27)

"A frost, for example, has far-reaching effects on the coffee crops as it can reduce or completely annihilate a substantial amount of coffee supply in a matter of days." (The Business Times, Singapore, June 27)

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays.

 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 51 – Innocent Victim

Guilty victims are rare but innocent victims are common especially when on the receiving end of violent attacks.

A man will spend time in jail after he 'viciously bashed" a man at a train station car park because a woman identified him as a rapist. "But it has been revealed that the target of the attack was an innocent victim in a case of mistaken identity." (The Queensland Times, June 16)

More innocent victims are found to be associated with sport than street crime.

"Two football fans who walked free from a court after admitting their role in a savage mob attack on an innocent victim were jailed by Court of Appeal judges today." (The Press Association, June 22)

Baseball: "Whether Romero was an innocent victim or was working the corners of the drug policy, only he knows for sure. He served his suspension and hasn't tested positive since." (The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 17)

Soccer: "Turning drug cheat into innocent victim" (New Sunday Times, Malaysia, March 20)

Rugby League: "Premier Rugby is re-examining the issue of where coaches should sit during matches but (Richard) Cockerill says he was the innocent victim of inaccurate reporting." (The Guardian May 24)

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays.

 

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 50 – Brutal Murder

(With thanks to Tony Robertson for this nomination for Cliche of the Week)

Murders are brutal, beatings savage and attacks vicious.

These regulars from the crime reporter's "send a shiver down the spine" phrase book chronicle the violent side of life.

A beating is by definition hurtful and murder is usually brutal except, perhaps, when it is a mercy killing.

And while some attacks may be more frenzied than others, they usually involve some form of hurt or harm.

"A Winchester man has admitted charges relating to a vicious attack on a Mt Somers pensioner in April." (Timaru Herald, June 15)

"Boyle was the only member of the group charged from the vicious attack that night." (Sunshine Coast Daily, June 15)

"The undefeated puncher also refuted McKenzie's claims the referee brought their first meeting to a premature end, saying his rival was saved from a savage beating." (Liverpool Echo, June 14)

 "The brutal murder (of reporter Uma Singh) led to nation-wide protests by the FNJ and international expressions of outrage." (Republica, June 14)

"He had survived a vicious attack by a gang of Sarawakian robbers that cost him four fingers on his left hand." (The Straits Times, June 13)

"The brutal murder of Saleem Shahzad, a Pakistani investigative reporter whose battered body was found in a canal outside Islamabad two weeks ago, remains unsolved." (The Guardian, June 13)

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays.

(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 49 – Game Changer

Game-changing  events, devices, technology, art and financial instruments have spawned an innovation fatigue epidemic.

Two years ago, the mainstream media was reporting game-changing moments up to 500 times a week.

Now we're seeing 800 or more of these life-transforming stories.

"Robotics engineers have seized on the Kinect as a game-changing device in every sense." (The Financial Times, June 7)

"Apple's latest potentially game-changing product will allow users to get access to music files via the internet from mobile devices such as iPads and iPhones and other computers." (The West Australian, June 7)

"It is the most significant milestone in mobile payment technology and a potential game changer for retail." (The Age, June 7)

"Indexing and exchange-trade fund giant Vanguard Group of Valley Forge, Pa is poised to set up shop in Canada, a move that could be a game changer for this country's overpriced mutual fund industry." (The National Post Canada, June 6)

"This one was a game changer, though, for a team that had lost six of its previous seven." (The Baltimore Sun, June 5)

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays.

(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 48 – Meteoric Rise

"Meteoric rise" is enjoying its own swift ascent in the language, with usage in the mainstream media going from 300 a week two years ago to 500 now.

This dazzling climb from obscurity cuts across society, careers, art and politics.

"The New Zealand dollar hit its highest point since its float in 1985 yesterday, prompting talk that the Reserve Bank could intervene to thwart what has been a meteoric rise for the currency." (New Zealand Herald, May 31)

"The future Italian leader (Silvio Berlusconi) began working on the property market in Milan in the early 1960s after completing law studies. It was the start of a meteoric rise." (Agence France-Presse, May 31)

"Fleet Foxes' tour begins with three nights at the Hammersmith Apollo: testament to their meteoric rise from acid-folk curio to mainstream phenomenon." (The Guardian, May 30)

"She has enjoyed a meteoric rise from junior stylist to head of male grooming at London's most fashionable hair salon." (The Daily Mail, May 30)

"It's been a meteoric rise for a group of four mums who started singing together for fun." (Illawarra Mercury, May 28)

"Making it easy for consumers to copy celebrity style is the secret behind the meteoric rise of internet retailer Asos." (The Financial Times, May 28)

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays.

(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 47 – Run for your money

Being as good as or nearly as good as the leader of the pack puts you in a position to give them a run for their money.

Journalists apply "run for their money" up to 60 times a week to sports teams, players, cars, alcohol and even characters.

"Its first-release two-year-old has given whiskies 20 years its senior a run for their money in world-judged tastings." ( Sydney Morning Herald, May 24)

"McLaren and Mercedes have some speed to find if they are going to give their major rivals a run for their money." (The Sunday Times, March 20)

"He is fortunate to have with him a major Wagner conductor in Daniel Barenboim and the magnificent Berlin Staatskapelle, which gives the Berlin Philharmonic a run for their money" (The Mail on Sunday, May 22)

"Although Stoke players receive much less wages than their opponents, they gave Manchester City a run for their money." (The Bangkok Post, May 22) 

 "The characters in L.A. Noire, the latest videogame from Take-Two Interactive Software Inc's Rockstar Games label, have facial expressions so realistic they could soon give live-action actors a run for their money." (The Wall Street Journal, May 20)

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays.

(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 46 – On the go

Life on the go is jogging while viewing movies using a device that also identifies "healthified" foods and tells you where to go on a romantic date.

On the go, a phrase favoured in press releases about advances in mobile technology, is now found more than 2000 times a week in the mainstream media.

The label means to be busy, as in a young man on the go, but is more likely to be associated with an article about Apple Inc or other gadget magic shops.

"A picture is worth a thousand words indeed — especially when you're on the go, can't be bothered to type and aren't quite sure what you should be searching for to begin with." (Los Angeles Times, May 15)

"This co-operation enables Nokia to offer a range of devices aimed at different segments of the market, to meet the growing user demand for internet connection on the go." (The Philippine Star, May 16)

"For many, these healthified foods have become the new health food. Many Americans are willing to pay a premium for ready-to-eat, ready-to-heat and on-the-go foods." (New York Times, May 15)

"Barcelona, Buenos Aires and Miami top a list of 29 cities that attract single men on the go." (Chicago Tribune, May 15)

 "Is it a sign of the new asceticism at BAE Systems that chief executive Ian King does not have any lunch when we meet at lunchtime? Apparently not – simply, he says, that he has been on the go since 5am and needed to eat earlier." (The Daily Telegraph, May 16)

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays.

(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 45 – New Normal

The "new normal", an emerging reality where the abnormal becomes the commonplace, is a label trying to make sense of rapid change.

It is a world where economic recovery can happen without new jobs, and terrorism is expected close to home rather than being something distant.

In 2002, "new normal" appeared in the global mainstream media 50 times a month. This year, in contrast, the phrase is a 700 times a month habit.

"The point is that 10 years after 9/11, the threat of terror appears to be part of the nation's new normal. It is something the US lives with." (Christian Science Monitor, May 7)

"The longer this persists, the more we risk a 'new normal' of structural unemployment, which is a fancy term for elevated human suffering and snowballing economic waste." (Washington Post, May 8 )

"Spending is weak and sentiment remains cautious but he feels consumers have adjusted to a fairly tough new normal." (The Irish Examiner, May 9)

"We are in denial about our weight because being fat has become the 'new normal', with the average weight now a stone more than it was 20 years ago." (The Irish Independent, May 11)

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays

(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 44 – Lucky Escape

Drivers, fishermen, animals, sports teams and holidaymakers have more than their natural share of escapes tagged "lucky".

While unlucky escapes aren't reported, the lucky ones get a mention more than 250 times a week in the global mainstream media:

"A dog had a lucky escape when it was rescued from the sea by a lifeboat crew after plunging more than 150ft down a cliff in East Yorkshire." (York Press, May 2)

"Three men had a lucky escape after they were found floating almost two miles from Worthing's coast after 11 hours at sea." (Worthing Herald, May 1)

"These Easter bunnies had a lucky escape when they were dug out of their warren by accident." (The Daily Express, April 25)

"The silver Volvo had crashed through some trees and on to the grass, where it caught fire, and the driver had a lucky escape." (Bath Chronicle, April 28)

"By the time the Rabbitohs had returned to halfway, the siren had sounded. What should have been a convincing win turned into a lucky escape." (The Australian, April 2)

"Kristy Lawrence breaks out in goose bumps as she recalls her lucky escape from Japan." (STM Gloss Magazine, May 1)

Cliche of the Week appears in The Australian newspaper Mondays

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