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Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Seares: Ricardo
By Pachico A. Seares
News Sense
A reader once called the news desk and asked an editor if calling the archbishop of Cebu Vidal — just Vidal minus the title — in the headline is not disrespect.
“Archbishop” is too long to squeeze into tight space. Even “cardinal” poses a problem, especially if there are more compelling specifics to put in the headline.
Editors all over the world see no irreverence in dropping from the headline a person’s title, be he pope or rascal. Thus, Pope Benedict XVI is just pope or Ben, and Garcillano is just Garci.
Besides, the cardinal doesn’t mind. On the contrary, I heard he complains in jest about not being called Ricardo in the story title.
Brevity
If the governor is Gwen, the Mandaue mayor is Ted and the Cebu City mayor is Tomas, why doesn’t the cardinal see Ricardo in the headline?
“Gwen” is intimate (all right, Sonny O, igat). “Ted” is cute. And “Tomas” is, well, Tomas. A common trait among the three most-frequently written names in headlines is, correct, brevity.
Headline writers love one-pulse words. Jaime was long but Sin was marvelous, deliciously so.
Peace
I first met the spiritual leader of Cebu shortly after he re-ported for his assignment as the archbishop’s coadjutor.
I lugged a tape-recorder to his residence, then the Metropolitan Cathedral “convento.” I asked, What does he seek for Cebu?
Gently: “Peace.”
Gentle peaceseeker Ricardo turned 75 yesterday.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 7, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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