NewsBlues mrsbgrammar Page 65
Chapter 2 Word Choice
55
police/"cop"
Let's spend some time with "police" today.
Mrs. B wants to be sure you're saying it correctly and using it
appropriately.
Repeat after me, please: puh-LEES.
Not PLEES or POH-lees.
Sure, the easy way out is to say "cop," but, depending on the story
and where you're working, that might not be such a good idea.
A news director in Macon writes:
"When I started my first TV job at WKRC-TV in Cincinnati, a
veteran anchor shared some words of wisdom to follow when
doing any type of crime/police stories. He said that cops are only
called cops by other cops...everyone else should refer to them as
police officers, and that the men in blue dislike it very much
when young reporters/anchors call them cops in their reports. I
don't know if this is a universal truth, but I have followed this
mantra my whole career... for me it's not worth offending any of
the older police officers here in the South... and it helps teach the
young reporters that giving a bit of respect can go a long way
when you need the help of the men in blue."
Matt Miller
WGXA-TV
Mrs. B agrees.
But if you have doubts, check with your local men and women in
blue.
What works in NYC may NOT work in Montgomery.
