Radio Exec Bans 'Flee,' 'We're Back,' and 'Death Toll'

Anchors and reporters at WGN radio in Chicago have a new job requirement: Don't say any of the station's 119 undesirable words and phrases on the air. Randy Michaels, CEO of parent company Tribune Co., wants information delivered in a more down-to-earth manner, without "newsspeak." On the Voldemort list: "vehicle," "seek," "pedestrian," "undisclosed," "at risk," "incarcerated," and "behind bars."

Some of the entries are just bad usage—"fatal death," "definitely possible"—and others are annoying clichés like "perfect storm," Roger Feder writes for Vocalo. Even sillier is the news director's enforcement strategy: He circulated "bingo cards" featuring a random assortment of the unmentionables and instructed employees to note the date and nature of co-workers' indiscretions. (More Tribune Company stories.)