Micro-managing gone wild! Tribune Co. exec bans 119 words and phrases

CEO Randy Michael’s memo prohibiting words from being spoken on the radio is Orwellian and petty

Recently, Tribune Co. CEO Randy Michaels issued a list of 119 words and phrases he wanted WGN news staffers to avoid using on the air. Blogger Robert Feder called Michaels’ memo a “crazy proclamation” and the effort a “petty and insulting micromanaging of subordinates.”

I have to agree with Feder. Petty and insulting micromanaging is the job of an editor, not a CEO.

Perhaps Michaels had employee health care in mind. How could anyone use phrases like ‘fatal death,’ ‘false pretenses’ and ‘senseless murder’ without choking? Then there’s ‘shower activity’ instead of rain, ‘white stuff’ instead of snow, and ‘untimely death.’ (Her death was a tragedy but at least it was timely).

If Feder considers that short list crazy, then he’ll really go nuts over all the good suggestions made by his column’s readers. In fact, they were happy to sound off on the subject.