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Re: Dumb column names
You gotta rememeber people read columns for mainly one reason: to be entertained. Even the news on TV is more entertainment rather than information. Dan Rather said that and I believe it. So when columns become too informative rather than entertaining, people tune out. If they want information they'll go to the story in Section A instead of reading someone's opinion or observation. Why do you think TV news has adopted that news magazine philosophy with all those cliche's like Action News, Weather Tracker, it's a grab on your attention. Just like Dumb column names: The Goddess Speaks. That's so arrogant it makes you want to read it just to see how arrogant she really is!
If I wanted to know what each political party is saying about the other I'd rather read about it in several news sources and develop my own opinion. News delivery is supposed to give "Just the facts". I could care less about someone elses opinion or position because if it's the same then why waste my time reading what I already know? But if the columnist is trying to persuade me to think otherwise, I won't want to be persuaded by opinion or subjective analysis, I'd rather be swayed by raw information in a reputable news storyline.
Columns should be written in an entertaining style if you want to hook the reader. Intellectual blah blah blah simply bores the reader away or limits the readers to a very limited intellectual bunch who probably share the same opinions as the writer making the column moot. You want to sway my opinion with yours? Then apply a bit of creative writing to hook me in. Lee Cataluna does an excellent job of doing that even if her opinion may be so far off target or a direct hit.
You gotta rememeber people read columns for mainly one reason: to be entertained. Even the news on TV is more entertainment rather than information. Dan Rather said that and I believe it. So when columns become too informative rather than entertaining, people tune out. If they want information they'll go to the story in Section A instead of reading someone's opinion or observation. Why do you think TV news has adopted that news magazine philosophy with all those cliche's like Action News, Weather Tracker, it's a grab on your attention. Just like Dumb column names: The Goddess Speaks. That's so arrogant it makes you want to read it just to see how arrogant she really is!
If I wanted to know what each political party is saying about the other I'd rather read about it in several news sources and develop my own opinion. News delivery is supposed to give "Just the facts". I could care less about someone elses opinion or position because if it's the same then why waste my time reading what I already know? But if the columnist is trying to persuade me to think otherwise, I won't want to be persuaded by opinion or subjective analysis, I'd rather be swayed by raw information in a reputable news storyline.
Columns should be written in an entertaining style if you want to hook the reader. Intellectual blah blah blah simply bores the reader away or limits the readers to a very limited intellectual bunch who probably share the same opinions as the writer making the column moot. You want to sway my opinion with yours? Then apply a bit of creative writing to hook me in. Lee Cataluna does an excellent job of doing that even if her opinion may be so far off target or a direct hit.
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