and finally


It’s high time for a footnote or two Words in the news often says Chris Proctor


need a little in e interpretation, says Chris Proct


marvellous idea from m old chum Stephen Ev Stephen E ans who is the BBC’s correspondent in Seoul, w ving to further his Korea suggests that reports from


ellous idea from my ans who is the


correspondent in Seoul, where he is living to further his Korea. He suggests th


explanatory note interpreting what is actually being said. This is a splendid plan which could sensibly be applied to most ne


of that country would be elh ped if explan tory note in


of th


try would be helped if they had an they ha is actu


said. This is a splendid plan which could s applied to most news items.


Stephen offers the examp Stephen offers the example of ne effect th le of news abo t t about the


demise of the North’s former defence min Yong-chol. Information crossed the border to theorde effect that the unfortunate gent was put to death by a firing squad sporting anti-aircraft weapons. On one hand, there are practical reasons why this could be factual. This method of dispatch could be factual. This method of dispatch would leave the outcome in no doubt: at that range, and with that sort of weaponry at his disposal, no-one could miss. Equally, however, readers would benefit from having a footnote illuminating the tale. This would read,. This wou ‘While the details of this story are unreliable, the message is clear: don’t sc w wi message is clear: don’t screw with Kim Jong-un.’ The alleged reason for Mr Yong-chol’s fall from grace and terrestrial departure was that he nodded off during a Leader’s speech. While this is unquestionably not the whole story,, the report does show that Kim can be sensitive to criticism. Perhaps the footnote couldism. Perhaps the foot add, ‘Accounts of the episode are more of a warning to others than strict biblical veracity.’


demise of the North’s former defence minister Hyon rossed the b te gen


a firing squad sporting an tcome in no doubt: a y, a footnote ill ting the tale


alleged reason for Mr Y terrestrial departure w


be sensiti add,


‘While the details of this story are unrelia th Kim Jon s fall from


he nodded


a Leader’s speech. While this is unquestio the w


the report does show th ts of the episode are more of to others than strict biblical v


he slipped ou tossed in


doing w find ou


and possibl applied to U


a Chinese student with too much time on and possibly too much baijiu in his bladder. So how could this footnote innov tion ell, take the examp


Labour leadership contest. Would it not b


Reports of the decease of Kim Jong-un’sReports of the decease of Kim Jong-un’s uncle, Chang Song-thaek, were even more colourful. When he slipped out of favour, it was said that he had been tossed into a pit where he was ripped apart by a hundred starving dogs. A note could h ve hundred starving dogs. A note could have explained that the incident confirms that you are better off not doing what Chang was up to, assuming you could find out what that was. It could also be augmented with the fact that the entire story was fabricated by a Chinese student with too much time on his hands jiu in his bladd


ang Song-th


en more colou as said that h as ripped apa


t confirms th Chang w


ou are be o


as. It could also be au as fab


So how could this footnote innovation be usefully applied to UK news? Well, take the example of the Labour leadership contest. Would it not be handy


raft weapo On one hand, there are practical reason range, an


sort of weaponry a his disposal, no-one c ould benefit fr


reports from the North


for readers to be advised that the number of times candidates utter the word ‘aspiring’ demonstrates their relationship to New Labour? The trend was commenced by that nice Peter Mandelson, who was up bright and early after the election for a bracing polka on Ed Miliband’s political grave. Labour, he said, had not related to the ‘aspirational classes’, and before you could say ‘Progress’ the A-word was on the lips of everyone seeking His Lordship’s blessing Chuka Umunna condemed Labour’s failure to make ‘an aspirational offer to middle income voters’er to middle income voters’ before quitting; Tristam H


litical gra e ‘aspira gress’


His Lor med Labour’s failure to


‘aspirational voters’ prior to his withdraw Andy Burnham sought ‘Labour’ which was located in ‘the aspira


Hunt wanted to champion r to his withdrawal: and ting heart’


abour’s beating heart’


Kendall wants everyone to aspire to aspiration in an aspirational way.


Similarly, Prime Ministerial speeches could benefit from simultaneous dec


along the lines Stephen suggests. Surely David Cameron’s declaration that the Tories are ‘the party of working people’ deserved some interpretation? This could either have


g


explained post-modernist eu


ist


irony, or his desire to neuter trade unions, the organisations working people use to defend themselves. It is important that readers are not left with the misleading impression that Mr Cameron meant what he was saying. Occasionally it may be necessary to add explanatory notes to words when their meaning is altered radically. For example, ‘reform’ could be preceded by the explanationeded by the explan tion that the word ‘reform’ has itself been reformed. Something along the lines of, ‘Reform no longer contains any suggestion of improvement as was the case formerly. It is now synonymous with the word ‘privatisation’. (See ‘NHS reform’, ‘education reform’, etc.) The sole exception to this general rule is when ‘reform’ is applied to unions, when its applied to unions, when it means ‘make extinct’ or ‘obliterate’.’.’


ng people use to defend an


g im


be necessary to add or


icall . For exam as itself been reformed. ines of,


on of im no


ee ‘N ex


or ‘oblitera


We should be grateful to Our Man in Seoul for his splendid proposal. There can be little doubt that Kim Jong-un and his pals are indeed mastershis pals are indeed masters of the misstatement. But they are not alone! For Evans’ sake, let us join his campaign. Let’s put our best foot (note) forward!


ful to Our Man in Seoul for . There can be little doubt


Bu


n his cam r


s pu or ement as w tion


sterial speeches could us deciphering suggests. S ation th


aspirations of everyone’. Liz to aspire to aspiration in


al classes’, and as on the


26 | theJournalist


MARK THOMAS


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