You can quote me
Oct 2nd, 2007 by handolio
Back in our first post I was reflecting on journalists’ ability to pick the wrong metaphors, but yesterday Charlie pointed out that it wasn’t only hacks with the habit. I’m rather grateful that he did.
I wrote a Living post based around the road casualty statistics that time forgot. Wondering if the DfT had an opinion on why the media hadn’t picked up on the figures, I approached their press office.
A lady there was kind enough to furnish me with a few words, which duly ended up in the article. You’ll notice that I’ve paraphrased part of her original quote with “reduced”.
That’s because, as Charlie’s fresh eyes spotted, it had originally read:
We of course are pleased to see road casualties continuing to be driven down
Here’s another great one – also govt communications – I had to rewrite a piece that had been submitted for the internal magazine of the Home Office singing the praises of the latest “hard-hitting campaign against domestic violence”. True story.