Writer: Odoobo C. Bichachi. PHOTO/COURTESY
It is often said that there are a thousand ways to say the same thing. Does it matter, then, how one says it?
Journalists, by the nature of their trade, are some of the prolific users of language. Words count and make a difference whether a story is read or listened to, or it is ignored altogether. In telling stories, journalists are usually not just straight and factual, sometimes they are colourful. But not everyone loves colour, which is why one of our online readers, @PNvigy was not happy with a post on Daily Monitor’s X handle this week.
The post read: “Dr Kizza Besigye’s lawyers, led by Kenya’s former Justice Minister Martha Karua and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, on Tuesday morning stormed the Supreme Court seeking audience with Chief Justice Alfonse Owinyi-Dollo over Karua’s delayed temporary practicing licence in Uganda.” (@DailyMonitor, December 3).
His problem (as he tagged me): “That phrase/word ‘storming’ is awfully wrong. Sounds like they were an aimless mob.”
The word “storm” is both a noun and a verb. In the instant case, it was used as a verb in a four-photo caption story to describe the scene at the Supreme Court. In the photos were Lukwago, Karua and others facing off, so to speak, with a police officer.
Used as a verb, “storm” or “storming” could mean two things, according to the online Oxford dictionary:
1. Move angrily or forcefully in a specified direction. “She burst into tears and stormed off.” Similar: stride angrily, stomp, march, charge, stalk, flounce, stamp, fling
2. (of troops) Suddenly attack and capture (a building or other place) by means of force. “Commandos stormed a hijacked plane early today.”
Could the editors have chosen a different word/phrase other than storming to describe what was happening in the photographs? Perhaps yes, and as seen above, there are many alternative words. However, the key question in deciding the words to use clearly lies in the editors’ interpretation of the nature of the lawyers’ visit to the Supreme Court, and the rendering they wish to reflect to the audiences.
Even then, the editors must still be guided by best journalism practices and the NMG Editorial Policy Guidelines. These cater for nearly every situation and decision an editor or reporter has to make in the course of their duties. The NMG editorial guideline that is most relevant to the issue at hand is clause 14, which states thus: “Outdated clichés, hackneyed or overused phrases, expressions or words should be avoided or used sparingly. Examples: hike, for rise or increase; hail for praise; nab for arrest; jetting in for flying in. Equally, words such as lash, fire, bash, roast and rap for criticise will not be used in text except in direct speech, and not at all in headlines. Likewise, standard language will be used on the Kiswahili platforms.”
From the above provision, it is clear the word/phrase “storming” falls in the category that should be used sparingly, or not be used at all in the circumstance. But would saying “…went to…” or “…visited…” the Supreme Court have accurately captured what transpired that Tuesday morning?
Perhaps not as clearly, this was not a leisurely visit. It was a visit steeped in politics and perceived injustice. The Ugandan lawyers and politicians were clearly taking the ball to the chief justice’s court in a political case against Opposition doyen Kizza Besigye who needs little introduction in this country.
The editorial policy guidelines do indeed provide another guidance that the editors/reporters can rely on in such scenario. It is in Section E titled “Professional Obligations”, paragraph three.
It states: “Additionally, it is recognised that language is dynamic and vibrant. While we must insist on the use of formal English, our journalism must not be frozen in amber, it must linguistically evolve to keep step with our audiences. This requires frequent and judicious upgrading of the Nation style to admit new expressions and keep our language use abreast with a young population.”
This, and the nature of the lawyers-cum-politicians’ visit to the Supreme Court, is perhaps what guided the editors in captioning that photo story the way they did.
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