Believe it or not, Charlie Sheen gave me the idea for this post. Since he seems to have an affinity for the term "Duh!" it reminded me how often I actually say it out loud while watching a newscast.
And if your story or newscast makes me say, "Duh!" then you need to take a step back and look at your writing.
I'll give you a few examples that I've seen in the past.
In a package about a home invasion: "Police say the couple was watching television when burglars kicked in the front door. They were taken completely by surprise."
Ya think?
Wait for it..... DUH!
In numerous packages about gas prices: "Higher prices at the pump mean your daily commute will cost more."
DUH!
In a piece on the day after an ice storm: "Roads are still covered with about one-to-two inches of ice. Police say that today you drive at your own risk."
Any other times, you may drive like a bat out of hell and if you hit anything it won't be your fault.
DUH!
And one from the "DUH!" hall of fame: "The man was shot three times in the head. Police have ruled out suicide."
Drumroll, please....... DUH!
No doubt we've all seen plenty of examples like this. It goes beyond stating the obvious... it just makes the viewer laugh at serious stories.
Take the time to really read your copy before it hits the air. If there's anything in there that is so obvious that it becomes funny, take it out.
You don't want Charlie Sheen reading your copy on one of his webcasts, do you?
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1 comment:
:D - i can always tell when it's a slow news day because of the stories about various vegetables being good for us.... wait for it ... DUH! thanks for putting a smile on my face today.
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