Words, sounds, and other such things

The lead sentence for Pia K. Hansen’s column contained the word “pissed”, which offended one person he spoke with, Steve Smith said.

The Spokesman-Review’s language policy outlaws the usage of Seven Deadly Words.

The use of any questionable words would be essential to the meaning and context of the story, usually in a direct quote. ‘Pissed’ is considered crude but not profane, and it is one word where editors can make a decision case-by-case.

Smith believed the column “wouldn’t have been damaged” by use of the word ‘angry’. Smith enjoyed reading the column.

iPhone mania

Should S-R have jumped in on the iPhone story for page 1?

Features editor Ken Paulman said the story showed up on the Associated Press news wire very early in the daytime, and that everybody who cares about the story would already know. There is also the danger of featuring products from specific companies.

However Smith brought up the point that the iPhone is not at a price range for everyday consumers or Spokesman-Review employees (The phone is available in June at roughly $500) which would lessen its value as an advertisement.

Managing editor Gary Graham brought a sample printout of the San Jose Mercury News front page today, which featured the iPhone as its centerpiece article and focused on Apple’s shift to and impact on the consumer electronics market. A great way to go deeper than simply reporting the phone release, editors said.

Other thin slices of the meeting

• Photo director Larry Reisnouer said the the page 1 centerpiece photo was meant to be much darker.
• Managing editor Gary Graham and his wife saw a KREM reporter out with a handheld wind meter, which made them smile. The wind was at about 3 miles per hour.
• Second issue of The Vox is out on the stands - The high school crew has worked extra hard in the past two weeks and overcame any holiday slowdowns.
• S-R has been approved “at the highest level,” Smith said, to participate in an exchange with a newspaper in Kiev, Ukraine. Two staffers from S-R will be going at a time, and two staffers from Kiev will be staying in Spokane. This project has been approved for mid-2007.