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WASHINGTON, Oct 9, 2006 (UPI via COMTEX) -- The Washington Post style arbiter has suggested that writers and editors there seek out euphemisms other than "the n-word."
"We've used this euphemism in more than a dozen stories in the last month," Don Podesta, the assistant managing editor in charge of copy desks, said in a memo. "It's trivializing and almost cutesy, as in 'Johnny said the f-word in school today, Mom.'"
Podesta's memo was first published by Richard Prince in his "Journal-isms" column on the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education Web site.
Podesta told Editor & Publisher in a telephone interview that he decided a change was necessary after a conversation with a black colleague at the Post who called the formulation "trivializing and childish." He found that other black staffers agreed and some suggested using the actual word, at least on first reference.
The paper has used the word "nigger" 1,254 times since 1977, Podesta told the staff. Most of the uses were as part of book, play or song titles, and some in stories about racial incidents.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2006 by United Press International
