Headline confusion
Of late, The Diamondback is beginning to baffle me with contradictions and copy-editing errors. While one can understand, though by no means excuse, copy-editing mistakes or oversight, contradictions within an article are simply unacceptable. Evidently, The Diamondback’s headline writers are experiencing some fair amount of trouble marrying headlines and sub-headlines with the reporter’s story. The most recent example of such a discrepancy occurred in the story “Turnout for taxi service surprising,” which ran on the front page of its Feb. 5 issue. A reader has only to read the lead paragraph before it is clear that the first three days of the Terp Taxi service exceeded the expectations of the Department of Transportation Services. It also states that the service, now in its pilot stage, will be evaluated in a few weeks so that the department may more accurately allocate its resources. There was no mention in the article that the department considered the ridership for this first weekend “small” – in fact, it was very encouraging. This fact renders the sub-headline “If ridership stays small, service may be canceled” completely confusing and contradictory.
This headline grossly misrepresents the story, and the reader who just scans the headlines will walk away with inaccurate information. Such misrepresentation leaves me with absolutely no recourse but to think that The Diamondback editors are bending over backwards simply to sensationalize a story as a means to draw in readership. This is the only logical explanation. I would like to believe that this paper would not stoop to such lows simply to increase its readership. I would like to believe that journalistic ethics and strong, accurate editing/headline writing skills are being cultivated at The Diamondback and that the staff is not resorting to cheap tactics and misrepresentations to sell a story. I must commend the reporter for doing a good job of tackling the various angles of the story. Now, the copy editors/headline writers must do an equally good journalistic job of drawing the readers into the story with headlines that accurately reflect the story. Let the story stand on its own merit and write a headline to reflect just that.
Nicola CorbinMarketing and Public Affairs ManagerDepartment of Transportation Services
An enforceable line-up policy
As both an undergraduate and graduate student here at Maryland, I have had the privilege of witnessing some great basketball moments. From winning the national championship in 2002 to now, my sixth and final Duke game this Sunday, I have been lucky to attend almost every home game for the past six years. As an avid Terps fan, I usually arrive an hour and a half to two hours before the group one entry time along with a small group of 10 to 20 regulars who are also there every game to ensure prime seats. With hated rival Duke coming to town, this group of 10 to 20 students will grow exponentially and will be much more eager to line up long before the designated 3 p.m. entry time.
In previous years, the extra hype surrounding this particular game has not been dealt with well and there has been confusion as to when and where lining up is or is not allowed. Last year, for example, The University Police stated that the line would not be allowed to form until 7 a.m. This inevitably led to some sort of pre-lining up and then a mad dash to secure a spot in the real line as the clock struck seven. My point in writing this letter is to not complain about mistakes that have been made in the past, but to encourage the Comcast Center, police and the university to develop a steadfast and enforceable policy about which everyone is aware long before the game. Personally, I don’t care when they start allowing people to line up, just that everyone receives a fair shot at the best seats in the house to watch our Terps beat the Blue Devils.
Adam McClureSecond-year graduate studentMaterials science and engineering
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