The Audacity of "Nope"

Pick up a newspaper. Today's word factory publishes paragraphs like these:

"According to the press release from Zerstorer Inc., 'We are fully compliant based on the audit conducted.' "
"In a statement released by Press Secretary Obfusman, 'The prime minister is away on a fishing holiday but wants to reassure citizens on this matter.' "
"Speaking from a prepared statement, Goalie Menteur said, 'Regarding the events of the past few weeks, I have put them behind me and will move forward. I ask that you respect my privacy.' "
"While Senator Ladro was unavailable for comment, his office reassured us that such visits to the Caribbean were all important to national security and should be expected regularly."

The previous quotes have one thing in common. All were written and edited by shrinking editorial staffs. Due to limited resources and mounting time pressures, papers are printing spin doctor, marketing agent, party whip, press handling and image consultant fed content.

In fact, in recent U.S. politics, name me one really big political scandal that the press broke wide open despite the best efforts of publicity managers?

Oh, that's right, The National Enquirer brought down John Edwards.

The National Enquirer?

Are you kidding me?

The publication so dismissed by the mainstream media that it took months of them shouting their "facts" from the rooftops (well, from the supermarket checkout aisle) before any "legitimate" news organization would listen.
How did they bring down the man that came a few votes shy of sitting behind the most overrated desk in the free world? By NOT listening to the Public Brokers and their never ending stream of vapid reassurances of propriety and humility, but following a core belief...

That some people will lie to you if they don't want you to know the truth.

When the campaign representatives told the Enquirer reporters that Edwards was on track and on message, the reporters sniffed the air and said, "Nope. That doesn't sound like what we are seeing."

"Nope." What an incredibly dangerous word to the establishment.
"Nope." We will not swallow your pre-packaged pablum and print it as proven.
"Nope." We will trust our hunches and turn over rocks and open hotel room doors until we either verify the official story or expose the truth.

The Truth. Almost 40 years ago, our industry put Woodward and Bernstein on our shoulders as the king-breakers; the ones who cut through the layers of party line "talking points," and found the ugly. Now we have the Enquirer to thank for carrying that tradition on.

And we can't give them a Pultizer for that?

Again, Are you kidding me?

I don't care if the legal definition of the Enquirer is a magazine and as such are not eligible for such an award. Create a brand new category if you have to, but give them something.

Some recognition for them being the organization dedicated to the Audacious; to pursuing the one word that has every go-betweener awake at night:

"Nope."

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