In my new job in Abu Dhabi, I am writing a style guide for a daily newspaper that is due to appear for the first time earlyish in 2008. One of my tasks, as editorial colleagues arrive from disparate geographical and cultural backgrounds, is to encourage them to adopt a uniform approach to the manner in which they write about events in the UAE, region and world.
These duties are not a million miles from part of my last role but one at the Daily Telegraph (or The Daily Telegraph as that paper's style book requires it to be termed on its own pages). My title then is also my title now: executive news editor.
As those three words suggest, it was and is a position with more functions and responsibilities than the enforcement of style rules. But my thoughts returned to such matters when I read an entertaining snippet on the Guardian's online media pages.
The Telegraph, which has lately shown a somewhat cavalier attitude towards its own elegant and perfectly sensible style book, has evidently asked a senior columnist to deliver a stern address to the troops after the most glaring among countless recent lapses.
Let me quote the Guardian item:
Simon Heffer to the rescue! After the Daily Telegraph shamed itself recently by referring to the Queen as HRH and not HM, editor-in-chief Will Lewis has tapped up the Heff to sort things out and appointed him what Telegraph wags are already dubbing "style counsellor". Heffer will address all editorial staff at 11.30am on Wednesday and will concentrate on matters of how to style and forms of address. "Attendance is mandatory" the email warns. Sounds a better idea than relying on Wikipedia, which was Telegraph head of news Chris Evans' helpful suggestion. Is the Heff gonna Shout to the Top? Just watch out for his Ever Changing Moods.
It is not clear whether Heffer's lecture will deal with the grim tabloid devices that have crept into Telegraph news reports under the new regime, which is perhaps unaware that a style book exists.
But some readers, weary of the current obsession with "laid bare" and "described how" constructions, may well be grateful for any small step he can take towards making the paper look once again as if it is the work of grown-ups.
Her Majesty's walk-on part in these matters took me straight back to a Saturday afternoon in September 2003 when I appeared as the guest speaker at the annual general meeting of the Queen's English Society.
This unusual footnote to my journalistic career will amuse some who know me. Back in Bishop Auckland, Alderman Middlewood will be spinning in his grave at the thought that a man he once accused of "gabbling" down the phone at him could be allowed anywhere near such an event.
When I mentioned the speech in an earlier Salut! posting, one or two readers asked where they could see a copy. At the time, I had no trace of it in electronic form.
A kind chap at the QES has now sent me a version which I have posted to a blog of convenience set up purely for the purpose of providing access to such material.
Have as much fun with it as you wish.
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