Woody: Wrinkling your nose for news
Staff By LARRY WOODY You probably saw the mad scramble among all the major network news agencies awhile back as they competed for late-breaking updates on the Big Story: “Prince Andrew Flies Coach!” That was an actual headline on an actual story written -- presumably -- by an actual reporter and posted on an actual national news website. As the fast-breaking story developed throughout the day, I read various accounts, trying to learn if the Prince had an aisle or window seat. No luck. All we were told was that somehow his royal hiney got stuck in the coach section with the unwashed commoners. Talk about shoddy reporting. Likewise, none of the accounts made it clear if the Prince requested a pillow, or how he liked the complimentary salted peanuts. Where’s Edward R. Murrow when we need him? But the “Prince Flies Coach!” wasn’t the best of the worst. These are more actual headlines played prominently on the websites of assorted major news organizations during a single random day: + ABC: “Jennifer Anniston’s surprising hair-washing habits.” + NBC: “Beyonce posts photos of Solange after alleged brawl.” + CBS: “Personhood for Pets?” + CNN: “Pope Francis: ‘I’d baptize Martians.’” + Fox: “Miranda: ‘I’m normal sized!’” + Even the staid old Grey Lady, the New York Times, ran this headline with a straight face: “Treating dogs’ anxiety with drugs.’” The Times didn’t editorialize in favor of pot for pooches, but simply reported the cold, hard facts: “More and more dogs need drugs
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