Friends Jargon, Journalese and slang are the words we should avoid. Many international publications have their style guide which tells journalists about publication's stand about different aspects of language to be used. Here is style guide of Economist about these three very important aspects of language which reporters and writers generally tend to ignore.

Jargon

Avoid it. You may have to think harder if you are not to use jargon, but you can still be precise. Technical terms should be used in their proper context; do not use them out of it. In many instances simple words can do the job of exponential (try fast), interface (frontier or border) and so on. If you find yourself tempted to write about affirmative action or corporate governance, you will have to explain what it is; with luck, you will then not have to use the actual expression.

Avoid, above all, the kind of jargon that tries either to dignify nonsense with seriousness (The appointee...should have a proven track record of operating at a senior level within a multi-site international business, preferably within a service- or brand-oriented environment, declared an advertisement for a financial controller for The Economist Group) or to obscure the truth (We shall not launch the ground offensive until we have attrited the Republican Guard to the point when they no longer have an effective offensive capacity-the Pentagon's way of saying that the allies would not fight on the ground until they had killed so many Iraqis that the others would not attack). What was meant by the Israeli defence ministry when it issued the following press release remains unclear: The United States and Israel now possess the capability to conduct real-time simulations with man in the loop for full-scale theatre missile defence architectures for the Middle East.

Try not to use foreign words and phrases unless there is no English alternative, which is unusual (so a year or per year, not per annum; a person or per person, not per capita; beyond one's authority, not ultra vires; and so on). 

Journalese and slang

Do not be too free with slang (eg, He really hit the big time in 1994). Slang, like metaphors, should be used only occasionally if it is to have effect. Avoid expressions used only by journalists, such as giving people the thumbs up, the thumbs down or the green light. Stay clear of gravy trains and salami tactics. Do not use the likes of. And avoid words and expressions that are ugly or overused, such as the bottom line, high profile, caring (as an adjective), carers, guesstimate (use guess), schizophrenic (unless the context is medical), crisis, key, major (unless something else nearby is minor), massive (as in massive inflation), meaningful, perceptions, prestigious and significant.

Politicians are often said to be highly visible, when conspicuous would be more appropriate. Regulations are sometimes said to be designed to create transparency, which presumably means openness. Governance usually means government. Elections described as too close to call are usually just close.

Try not to be predictable, especially predictably jocular. Spare your readers any mention of mandarins when writing about the civil service, of their lordships when discussing the House of Lords, and of comrades when analysing communist parties. Must all lawns be manicured? Are drug traffickers inevitably barons?

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Ashok Bhatt offers help for research on Gujarat

Gujarat Assembly Speaker Ashok Bhatt has offered help to journalists for research on Gujarat. He said that Vidhan Sabha Library had rare collection of books and other documents about Gujarat. The library has 77,000 plus books. At present 182 MLAs and Vidhan Sabha staff use the library. There are records of debates and discussions in the House. This provide most detailed and authentic information about Gujarat.

Bhatt is very clear in his thinking. Great media guru as he is, he says that just Governor's address to the House reflect changing priorities of the State. For the research facility, he is even working on plans for a research centre adjoining to the library. If you wish, you can contact him. You can get story ideas also from him.

He gave me an idea. Of course off the record. Most of the 14 committees of the Assembly focused their attention on the issue of Environment. Friends, I promise that this simple statement of our Bhattji can give you number of sensational national stories!! Believe me.

To read the Hindi version of this story, click here.

Annual dinner of GMC: expansive flavour on platter

It was second annual dinner of the Gujarat Media Club. Sprawling lawn of the party plot reflected the upbeat expansive mood of the outgoing team. For the new president Manas Gupta it was a broad grin with a streak of skepticism about the performance competence of his team which had to take charge on April 1. He was candid enough to express his apprehensions. Will my team be able to maintain standards set up the outgoing team of R K Mishra?, he asked this question to many.

The question of Manas Dasgupta and the souvenir released on the occasion told the story of the two year old GMC. The directory of the members,130, to be precise showed the numerical strength of the GMC and number of advertisements spoke volumes about the growing pull of the organisation. Though its name says Gujarat Media Club , its activities are initially restricted to Ahmedabad city alone. In such a situation paid membership of 130 is not a small figure.

It was really a grand show. There was a couple who entertained journalists with memorable songs. It was a get together of journalists and their families and some friends drom other fields. After the cricket match earlier , this was the second event of family gathering of journalists. Certainly an event which made most of the journalists feel the need for more such events for the fraternity.

Mumbai Press Club with renovated building

On Saturday Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh inaugurated the renovated building of the Mumbai Press Club in South Mumbai. The building renovated at a cost of about Rs one crore has a media centre also. On the Occasion Chief Minister said that the government would provide houses at cheaper rate to journalists. It is not easy to buy a house in Mumbai, he said.

Chief Minister had a piece of advise to the Club also. Please train journalists specially those from the electronic media. He must have tasted the raw power of the elctronic media. Club President Pradip Vijaykar, secretary Gurbir Singh and others also spoke on the occassion.