Do we write the full name of ‘Els Right’? Can we call the suspicious drones above Danish airports spy dimples? And did the English word ” Martyr ” that US President Donald Trump used the same load this week as ‘Martelaar’?
These are just some questions that colleagues and readers fire on me during a busy news week. For the enthusiast: the answers were yes, no and yes.
If someone is not a victim or suspect, NU.nl only Anonimizes persons in exceptional cases. Consider the threat of violence, intimidation or stalking. In the case of Els Noort, we have no concrete instructions for that.
For our reliability, information – including a name – must be verified. It should be clear who addressed demonstrators in The Hague last weekend. Moreover, after the demonstration against the asylum policy, Noort shared a video message in which she is recognizable in the picture.
Sometimes you just don’t know yet
And we could not call the drones above Denmark, because we had no idea or they had been used for that. Then it is better to speak of reconnaissance drones or simply drones. Sometimes you just don’t know something yet.
Furthermore, after the memorial service for the murdered Charlie Kirk, we were asked whether ‘Martelaar’ is a good translation of ‘ Martyr ‘. According to Van Dale, a martyr is “someone who sacrifices his life not to renounce his faith”. Or “someone who suffers a lot for a noble case or who falls victim to his profession or activities”. All those descriptions seem to fit with what Trump said about Kirk in his speech.
Faster is not always better
As an editor -in -chief of a news site you must quickly have an answer ready. Then it can be tempting to go along with what you see with other media, hears from readers or encounters on social media.
But a serious editor will first count to ten. How did we deal with similar topics earlier? How did we respond if this incident had not happened? And has the situation actually changed in such a way that we need new policy?
In such a case I will check whether a term covers the load, recognizable enough, is not too sensitive and is unambiguous. Sometimes we also feel discomfort on the editors with a certain word, but there is not (yet) a good alternative. Other times feedback from readers brings us the idea for a better term, such as suicide instead of suicide.
Open -minded
Language is not an exact science. Some words simply evoke a different association with one than with the other. The trick is to find a middle ground that matches the neutral tone of NU.nl and does justice to the situation.
As a journalist and editor -in -chief, I will always look at such a language question with an open mind. I pick up reference works, talk to other editors, follow comments from readers, view arguments from relevant organizations or Spar with a reporter who knows a lot about the subject.
Then I list the pros and cons, so that we can make a well -considered choice. Nu.nl does that with a warm heart and a cool head. We are certainly not deaf for sounds from society, but we are not carried away by interests. Just like that reporter, I follow the developments, but I do not put them on the social agenda. Nu.nl signals what happens, but does not take action.
In addition to the latest news, do you find the newest language first on NU.nl? Probably not. But if you gradually come across Donbas, Mpox or BI+ on our site, then you know at least that it has been well thought about.
Should we write the full name or ‘alder right’? Can we call the suspicious drones about Danish Airports spy drones? And Does the English Word ‘ Martyr ‘ That American President Donald Trump Used This Week The Same Meaning As ‘Martelaar’?
These are just some of the questions that creamleagues and readers fire at me duration a busy news week. For Those Interested: The Answers Were Yes, No, And Yes.
If soe is neith a victim nor a suspect, nu.nl only anonymizes people in exceptional cases. Think of the threat of violence, intimidation, or stalking. We have no concrete indications of this in the case of Els Noort.
For our reliability, information – including a name – must be verifiable. It should be clear who addressed protesters in the Hague in full view last weekend. MoreOover, After the Demonstration Against The Asylum Policy Got Out of Hand, Noort Herself Shared A Video Message in which She is clearly visible.
Sometimes You Just Don’t Know Yet
And we could call the drones about Denmark spy drones because we had no idea whether they had leg used for that purpose. Then it is better to speak of reconnaissance drones or simply drones. Sometimes you just don’t know something yet.
Furthermore, After the Memorial Service for the Murdered Charlie Kirk, We Received the Question from a Reader Whether ‘Martelaar’ is a good translation of ‘ Martyr ‘. Accordance to Van Dale , a martyr is “Someone who sacrifices his life not to renounce his faith”. Or “Someone Who Suffers Greatly for a Noble Cause or who Becomes the Victim of his professional or activities”. All Those Descriptions Seem to Fit What Trump Said in His Speech About Kirk.
Faster is not always better
As the editor-in-chief of a news site, you must have Answer Ready Quickly. Then it can be tempting to go along with what you see in other media, hear from readers, or encounter on social media.
But a serious editor Will Count to Ten First. How did we do deal with Similar Topics Before? How would we have reacted if this incident had not happened? And has the situation actual changed so much that we need new policies?
In Such A Case, I Check Whether a Term Covers the Meaning, is Recognizable Enough, is not Too Sensitive, and Is Unambiguous. Sometimes we on the editorial staff also feel uncomfortable with a certain Word, but there is (still) no good alternative. Other times, feedback from readers gives us an idea for a better term, such as suicide insead or self-curver.
With An Open Mind
Language is not an Exact Science. Some Words Simply Evoke a Different Association in One Person Than In Another. The trick is to find a middle ground that suits nu.nl’s neutral tone and does justice to the situation.
As a journalist and editor, I will always look at such a language question with an open mind. I Consult Reference Works, Talk to Other Editors, Follow Readers’ Reactions, Review Arguments From Relevant Organizations, Or Spar with a Reporter Who Knows a Lot About the Subject.
Then I list the pros and cons, so that we can make a well-considered choice. Nu.nl does this with a warm heart and a cool head. We are certainly not deaf to voices from society, but we do not allow perurselves to be carried away by interests. Like that reporter, I Follow Developments, But I Don’t Put Them on the Social Agenda. NU.nl Signals What Is Happening, But Does Not Take Action.
Do you also find the latest language first on nu.nl in Addition to the latest news? Probably not. But if you come across donbas, mpox or bi+ on our site along the way, you know for sure that it has leg well thought out.