But you would hope that the accompanying 'story' is at least a) something of interest happening in New Zealand or b) a story of considerable world importance. At the very least, you would expect there to be a story at all. Behold today's front page:
The caption:
This 7.3m great white shark had just gorged himself on a seal off False Bay, south of Cape Town in South Africa, but when wildlife photographer Chris Brunskill dangled a decoy in front of him, he showed he was ready for a second helping.So it's a shark in South Africa, not New Zealand. And it hasn't attacked anyone, it's just jumping out of the water - and someone took a photo of it.
On another note, did anyone else look at today's front page's main headline (headword?) and immediately think of this?:
Posts
Coebra,
ReplyDeleteI used to think you were funny, but now I feel violated...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6077338/Humour-is-an-act-of-aggression-claims-German-academic.html
no, i didn't think of 'gotcha'. i doubt anyone else did.
ReplyDeleteThe comparison, of course, was with the giant 'NO' on the Herald front page.
ReplyDelete'GOTCHA' is just the first example of a tabloid-style giant headline that came to mind.
What does 'MORE...NOW' mean?
ReplyDeleteand
'Anonymous saves NZ Herald from [journo]basher' might be a good article too.
Yeah, I want to know about that "MORE...NOW."
ReplyDeleteMore sharks? More sharks, Now? More Now on sharks? We give you More sharks per page than any other NZ newspaper? Now, if you think you need More sharks, try Herald Sharks! They're the sharkiest! More Sharks, Now!
Actually it just reminds me of this: http://www.collegehumor.com/picture:1795216
ReplyDeleteMy theory is MORE... NOW... is meant to be read it conjunction (left to right, as it were) with the enormous NO. So in fact, the Herald reader is being sent a subliminal message from the Sith Lords at Crosby-Textor telling us to stop talking about the smacking now John Key has decided Sue Bradford was right all along.
ReplyDeleteThe actual headline, decoded, is NO MORE NOW (on smacking) or a shark will jump out of the water and eat you.
Did I think of The Sun when I saw the Gerald? Er, no, I didn't. It's just a one-word headline, presumably designed to attract attention. That, of course, pre-supposes that the readership automatically think of smacking referenda all the time. As for the shark pic, fair enough it's pretty irrelevant, but it's a cool pic and it's better than a shot of Larry fucking Baldcock on page 1. And it did let you use Jump the Shark as a header...
ReplyDeleteThe finest minds of the New Zealand Herald come up with 'NO'
ReplyDeleteWTF?
and
'MORE... NOW!'
double WTF?
Neither headline has any context. The subeditor has also used an exclamation mark, often referred to in impolite journalist circles as a dog's cock - priapic, angry and an affront to the general public.
Well, it's only a couple of beats away from topless teens on page 3 and rampant CAPITALS in the article text to tell you how you SHOULD feel.
ReplyDeleteI thought of this, myself (sorry no hyperlink, copypaste to view):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/onion_imagearticle2505.article_0.jpg
I see the Herald has done the same, nothing above the fold but a headline and promos, today. Urgh. I suppose it's cheaper than actually copy.
ReplyDeleteDon't blame the poor old subs for the headlines. A little bird tells me they get overriden by their far cleverer managers 90% of the time.
ReplyDeleteLol Samuel that's awesome.
ReplyDeleteBRO
ReplyDeleteSHARKS
BRO
Sorry, normal service resuming... today's is another similar case, although there's a brief wire story attached. Still more newsworthy than ZOMG SHARK, but it's clear that without that one photo the story wouldn't rate more than a Round The World-style brief in the international pages.
ReplyDeleteToday Garth George wrote a reasonable, accurate and readable column defending Maori seats. I'm so CONFUSED right now!
ReplyDeleteC'mon James, get your rage on ...
ReplyDelete"Navy blocks green-finger granny" screams the headline.
Read the article, and she has informed them that she is no longer up to looking after the piece of land due to ill-health, so they have given her the required 3 months notice.
There is no way that the word "blocks" should have even been considered for that headline.
FREDDIE STARR ARE MY HAMSTER!
ReplyDeleteSorry, couldn't help it. What's next? WINSTON PETERS SMACKED MY DOG!
@Lucia: Read the George piece again, and note the distinct overtone of patronising 'noble savagism'... it's definitely still him, just on a different tack from usual this week.
ReplyDeleteThere are good arguments to be made for the Maori seats, but surely also far better people to make them than Garth George.
FREDDIE STARR ARE MY HAMSTER!
ReplyDeleteis that some sort of Devonshire deviation on the original story?
Blog! Blog! Blog!
ReplyDeleteHello? is there anybody in there?
ReplyDeleteThis blog has been left in 'Your Views' mode for the time being. While the cat's away, etc.
ReplyDeleteIn cyberspace no one can hear you scream.
ReplyDeleteThought I might post a link to this, from yesterday's paper:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10595881
Was I the only one who did a double-take on the headline? I don't think "circle" means what the Herald thinks it means...
Hello!! Hello!!!
ReplyDelete..
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Sorry! Wrong Number!!
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Oh no wait. ... nice blog ;)
http://lifeandpolitics.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/the-proverbial-cat-up-a-tree-story/
ReplyDeleteGiven the lack of recent posts, it's a little unfortunate that the last story on this blog is of a shark jumping, no? :)
ReplyDeleteIt's hardly like there's a lack of raw material out there.
Post! Post! Post! Post!
This is the end...beautiful friend..the end!
ReplyDeleteBlog! Blog! Blog!
ReplyDelete