Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Related story, page 16WTF

Desk hands of a certain age and front-end system* probably remember the "UF/ related" format call or some- thing like it: hit a few keys and you get a ballot box** at the top of your story with a line beginning "Related story, page --". Fill in the page number and you've created an instant reefer to a related -- at least, allegedly related -- story. Back in the early days of reader-friendliness, it was a nice way to let readers know you cared.

But back to the present. You can tell Fox is off to a happy start; any day when you can lead with a picture of Ahmadinejad shaking his fist is a good day at Fox. More interesting is the set of bullets under the cutline, which in the sort of visual grammar Fox is using sum up all the stories related to Ahmadinejad's latest "demand":
-- Iranian denies Holocaust
-- Iran will nuke you by Valentine's Day
-- Democrats hate Limbaugh!

It's going to be a long but endlessly amusing next couple of years on Fox Watch. Don't miss a single episode!


* Hi, Wilmingburgers!
** "Square bullet," if you insist

6 Comments:

Blogger Strayhorn said...

Ah, ATEX. The perfect example of software design by committee.

"Bullet box," not to be confused with "cartridge box."

So, what did Imadinnerjacket threaten us with, more advanced PhotoShopping? I should go to the Fox site to read the story but afterward I always feel like I should end all my sentences with exclamation points.

/slashies!

12:46 PM, January 28, 2009  
Blogger Denise said...

I'm only 28, but I love the blank looks I get from my peers when we repeat something often, and I say, "Man, I should put that on a save-get."

The oldtimers nod sagely.

10:15 PM, January 28, 2009  
Blogger The Ridger, FCD said...

How dare Ahmadinejad insist on a change in US policy? Insisting other countries change policies is OUR prerogative.

5:52 AM, January 29, 2009  
Blogger The Ridger, FCD said...

PS - They should have put the Pope's unexcommunicating the Holocaust-denying bishop in there, *I* think.

8:53 AM, January 29, 2009  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The question I have is how many times do we apologize for something? We even paid damages for the Airbus victims. Discounted from what an American would be worth. And how much more can you apologize for backing a tyrant than to invade his country and knock down his statue?

3:16 PM, January 29, 2009  
Blogger fev said...

I like the stuff those furriners put in their news stories sometimes. Like: Yesterday was also the day Ahmadinejad officially said he was running for re-election. (Shazam! So he goes out to the provinces and gives a speech? So he's like a community organizer, only with executive responsibilities?)

Here's how Fox contextualized the speech: "Ahmadinejad also demanded the U.S. apologize for 'crimes' committed against Iran; specifically, criticizing and trying to block their nuclear program." Far as I know, that particular bit of fiction remains exclusive to Fox.

4:21 PM, January 29, 2009  

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