I'll admit I can be a grammar/style stickler at times (I am an INTP after all) - but shouldn't internal corporate "news articles" still follow journalism conventions - especially when said content is published on the web (not just intranet) for anyone who might stumble upon it?
That said, isn't it still standard that when quoting someone in an article, if a single name is to be used it is the surname rather than the first name?
For example,
"Blah blah blah", said John Smith, director of DeptA.
more text
"Blaha blaha blaha", explains John. "Blahaa blahaa blahaa".
What the heck is "John" doing there. Shouldn't it be "explains Smith"?
I think it should be last name and I don't like using present tense in quotes during stories. I can handle it during headlines, but whenever I read a release with a present tense form of said or something stupid (stated seems to be the low-rent press release verb of choice) I cringe.
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I think it should be last name and I don't like using present tense in quotes during stories. I can handle it during headlines, but whenever I read a release with a present tense form of said or something stupid (stated seems to be the low-rent press release verb of choice) I cringe.
I agree - I was so put-off by the first name usage that I didn't notice the use of the present tense. This actual release uses both "said" and "explains", mixing tenses freely.
I agree with you, Lisa. However, having seen so much bad (AWFUL) grammar throughout the web and in print, it's probably not the worst infraction around... At least it wasn't something like "And John said to go their to."
I understand that the chances are good that whoever was tasked with writing the release(s) had no training in journalism (a guess). But doesn't the person read newspaper and magazine articles enough to know how to imitate the style of a proper article if not understand the concepts?
But doesn't the person read newspaper and magazine articles enough to know how to imitate the style of a proper article if not understand the concepts?
I'm sure that seems obvious and elementary to you... but a lot of people would have serious difficulty imitating any sort of style.
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It bothers me too, Lisa. Hell, I got an email from Careerbuilder.com today about an "exiting new opportunity." Sheesh! That was the subject line that probably went out to hundreds of thousands of people. How can you be taken seriously as a professional who wants to help connect other professionals with their potential employers if you can't even catch something that basic? It was so insulting to me that I deleted it on principle alone without even reading it.
journalism standards within companies
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