Comments on: It's Pronounced, 'Mee-shell'

It's Pronounced, 'Mee-shell'

glaucon — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:26:18 -0800

Michele Norris is temporarily stepping down from All Things Considered until her husband's new role as Senior Adviser to the Obama Campaign is complete in 2012.

The announcement exemplifies NPR's continued policy of remaining as apolitical as possible in light of today's reality of partisan, budget cutting frenzy as well as past (and recent) gaffes by NPR leadership.

By: DU

DU — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:31:34 -0800

Surely THIS will make the Republicans happy and they'll welcome NPR with open arms!

By: Auden

Auden — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:32:56 -0800

Why didn't NPR didn't just fire her, and then apologize and rehire her, and then decide instead to cancel production of All Things Considered? Isn't that how they roll?

By: roomthreeseventeen

roomthreeseventeen — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:36:19 -0800

NPR lost all relevancy a long time ago.

By: unsupervised

unsupervised — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:36:29 -0800

*whistling down alleyway* Soterios Johnson's comin' yo!

By: joe lisboa

joe lisboa — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:36:32 -0800

Congrats to her husband, and I hope he works his ass off. Note that she is staying on in a largely off-mic role (and recusing herself from election coverage) until after the election.

By: Blasdelb

Blasdelb — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:37:07 -0800

Metafilter: "NPR, the fainting goats of American political media."

By: found missing

found missing — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:38:49 -0800

Making a Metafilter tag line? That's not how you do it.

By: Samizdata

Samizdata — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:40:19 -0800

Blasdelb: "Metafilter: "NPR, the fainting goats of American Apolitical media."" FTFY.

By: schmod

schmod — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:44:19 -0800

found missing: "Making a Metafilter tag line? That's not how you do it." Blasdelb was quoting another thread, not making a tagline.

By: found missing

found missing — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:45:57 -0800

Incidentally, just to offset the Beavis and Butthead "that sucks" commentary in this thread, I'm glad NPR does what it does. Some of its mistakes are indefensible, but at least it is trying to present a quality objective news product.

By: punkfloyd

punkfloyd — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:46:36 -0800

I'm gonna meesh her.

By: The White Hat

The White Hat — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:46:40 -0800

NPR lost all relevancy a long time ago. Do go on.

By: found missing

found missing — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:48:04 -0800

Blasdelb was quoting another thread, not making a tagline. Understood, but then it needed a link, and no "Metafilter:" Standards people!

By: rhizome

rhizome — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:49:29 -0800

CONSIDER ALL THE THINGS

By: Leezie

Leezie — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:56:30 -0800

I had to stop listening to All Things Considered because Michelle Norris just grated on my nerves, particularly when she was pronouncing her name. Now if only Melissa Block would also take a vacation, I can listen again.

By: DU

DU — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:59:02 -0800

Yeah, for a long time I wasn't sure if her name was "Michelle Norris" or "Nichelle Norris". ...at least it is trying to present a quality objective news product. Evolution stories done by the religion reporter? Really?

By: ShawnString

ShawnString — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:59:10 -0800

CONSIDER ALL THE THINGS posted by rhizome at 2:49 PM there

By: mmrtnt

mmrtnt — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:59:12 -0800

'Mee-shell' The only other place I've heard that pronunciation is in a Beatle's tune.

By: Ruthless Bunny

Ruthless Bunny — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:59:42 -0800

I'll miss her, but I do hope they'll keep Ari Shapiro on as a co-anchor.

By: gurple

gurple — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:00:10 -0800

Hey, yeah -- why is she pronounced Mee-shell, anyway? I don't actually hate her for it, but I figure, as a radio host, she must have a pretty compelling reason for sticking with that. She appears to be the daughter of a Betty and a Belvin. Belvin?

By: infinitewindow

infinitewindow — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:01:02 -0800

Every time I hear Robert Siegel say his name on the radio, it sounds to me like Robert Seagull, and I want to ask him how his brother Jonathan Livingston is doing.

By: Maaik

Maaik — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:02:07 -0800

Oh ah? How do you pronounce "Leezie"? I'm glad she's stepping down temporarily. Seems like the most sensible way to do this. I'm wondering how a network anchor would handle this same situation and if we'd be reacting differently to that because this is NPR.

By: axiom

axiom — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:02:18 -0800

According to this less than 10% of their funding comes from federal sources (figuring 6% member station funding into 34% station fee funding of NPR, plus some fraction of 7% in grants). Can Congress de-fund CPB as well? Michele Norris is now somehow responsible for 10% of NPR's funding? I think I'd rather give a more to NPR funding drives and have them not go to these bizarre lengths to try to curry the favor of the asshole GOP members threatening their funding. I realize a disproportionate amount of the federal money goes to service rural stations, but ironically those are more likely to be the stations whose listenership is more likely to vote into office politicians who want to defund NPR.

By: jeather

jeather — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:02:53 -0800

So if you are married to someone political, you have no choice but to also be a political figure and leave your job? That does not sound ideal. What is the other pronunciation of Michelle?

By: Maaik

Maaik — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:04:03 -0800

(Also, she pronounces her name like that because that's how her father pronounced it. I believe she discussed it in her book.)

By: Aquaman

Aquaman — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:04:03 -0800

That guy Mormon Olney could use a little diction practice, too.

By: webhund

webhund — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:06:04 -0800

Since we're talking NPR hosts, anyone else find Netta Oollabee's sing-song, 3 syllable lilt like nails on chalkboard? (no idea how to spell her last name and not going to google it. )

By: hal_c_on

hal_c_on — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:06:07 -0800

Metafilter: That's not how you do it.

By: hal_c_on

hal_c_on — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:07:14 -0800

(Also, she pronounces her name like that because that's how her father pronounced it. I believe she discussed it in her book.) So then do I call it "gubment" or "government"

By: me3dia

me3dia — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:08:42 -0800

why is she pronounced Mee-shell? It's the common pronunciation in French. But why does it matter? She can pronounce it however she likes.

By: hal_c_on

hal_c_on — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:12:18 -0800

It's the common pronunciation in French. But why does it matter? She can pronounce it however she likes. I was going to say "its radio...half my pals think she is saying 'knee-shell'". But then I remembered how this Michele pronounced her name...and if I was Norris, I would be all "no...not mish-ell...its mee-shell".

By: gurple

gurple — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:14:19 -0800

But why does it matter? She can pronounce it however she likes. Good point, Endraugh. Good point.

By: Ratio

Ratio — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:21:35 -0800

See also: "Reporting from Los Angeles in perfect, unaccented English, this is [in heavy accent] Monda-LEE Del BaRRRRco."

By: delmoi

delmoi — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:23:06 -0800

Blasdelb was quoting another thread, not making a tagline.

Yeah, but he was quoting another thread quoting twitter. So it should read:

Blasdelb: "Metafilter: "Someone on Twitter: "NPR, the fainting goats of American Apolitical media."""

_{Bonus: Metafilter: "It's pronounced Mee-fi"}

By: gurple

gurple — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:25:52 -0800

"Reporting from Los Angeles in perfect, unaccented English, this is [in heavy accent] Monda-LEE Del BaRRRRco." Actually, I respect that a lot. It's not super easy to flip back and forth between accents. Plus, how else would she say it, to make it less distracting for an American audience? It's not exactly a typical American name.

By: George_Spiggott

George_Spiggott — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:28:02 -0800

If a Latino broadcaster is named "Jesus", would you have him pronounce that in an American English accent as well?

By: hal_c_on

hal_c_on — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:31:35 -0800

If a Latino broadcaster is named "Jesus", would you have him pronounce that in an American English accent as well? Only if he's really funny.

By: Schismatic

Schismatic — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:32:07 -0800

It's such a shame that a move like this is so rare in the news industry. I feel like I've read time and again about research showing that no matter how objective one can try to be, it is easy for natural bias towards friends and gift-givers to slip in and be rationalized as objectively grounded (e.g. doctors and pharmaceutical reps). Some of the other moves by NPR have been over the top, yes, but this one seems totally reasonable, especially as she's just moving positions briefly. Ideally, this should have nothing to do with the presence or absence of federal funding and everything to do with the integrity that comes with being a real news agency. That Norris and NPR have more integrity about such matters than a couple of supreme court justices should be celebrated, not presented as a sign of weakness (for NPR, at least).

By: jeather

jeather — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:33:06 -0800

It's not super easy to flip back and forth between accents. If you're fluent in both, it is.

By: crush-onastick

crush-onastick — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:36:54 -0800

I had a friend once, with a name--like Michele Norris--that all Americans expected to be pronounced with a short vowel. However, like Michele Norris, she pronounced it with a long vowel. It was her name. Her parents had given it to her; she accepted it; she used it. She never mispronounced her own name; it was, after all, her name. Not the name of people she was introduced to, not the name of people she knew. I had a housemate--rarely an asshole, but usually just clueless and often careless about other people, their feelings, their expectations, their existing in his space--who simply could not, under any circumstances, get it through his thick skull that her name was pronounced with a short vowel not a long one. Once, finally, so irritated with his complete lunkheaded inability to recognize he was constantly mispronouncing this woman's name, I began interrupting him every time he said it wrong. It was surprising how often he said it wrong. So, we started changed the short vowel in his name to a long vowel and called him that. It did not change his inability to call the woman by her actual name (long vowel and all), but it lessened her irritation at being constantly told her name was wrong.

By: Ironmouth

Ironmouth — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:37:56 -0800

This is smart. I think that this should be done by any network in any similar situation.

By: humanfont

humanfont — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:43:23 -0800

I feel upset about this and I have no specific program or remedy but hope that one will emerge from group yelling in place of a public address system. Therefore I declare #OccupyATC (Occupy All Things Considered). We can setup our tents on the roof desk roof deck. Naturally we will demand good seats at any tiny desk concerts.

By: inturnaround

inturnaround — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:43:36 -0800

This is smart. I think that this should be done by any network in any similar situation. I think it's silly. She's not her husband. She's not working for the Obama campaign. If she was, they'd never let her come back. Since she's not, what her husband does or who he advocates shouldn't matter.

By: oneswellfoop

oneswellfoop — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:47:04 -0800

In its efforts to be impartial, NPR can't tell Left from Right. ...which was the only story in NPR's weekly email of "most emailed stories" (yes, I subscribe to it, partly because it's hilariously redundant) that I did not see previously on MetaFilter

By: madajb

madajb — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:47:07 -0800

I had a friend once, with a name--like Michele Norris--that all Americans expected to be pronounced with a short vowel. However, like Michele Norris, she pronounced it with a long vowel. My child's name has a short A. Never occurred to us that it could be anything else. However, a sizable percent of the population(including my parents, gallingly enough) pronounces the name with a long A. It's irritating, though I'm never quite sure if I should correct people or just let it go. Most people will make the effort to get it the way we pronounce it, but you can see some people internally struggle, literally changing the pronunciation in their head before saying it. I can't imagine having a much more common name like Michelle with a different pronunciation. Must drive her crazy hearing it "wrong" all the time. I wonder if she just gives up with people she's never going to meet again, or if she's a stickler.

By: Sir Cholmondeley

Sir Cholmondeley — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:48:21 -0800

I think she stepped down just in time, narrowly averting the great totebag scandal of 2011. And I'm Sylvia Poggioli Ravioli.

By: SLC Mom

SLC Mom — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:48:27 -0800

Not to be too on topic here or anything, but this makes me wonder how often something like this happens. And of that, how often a woman is putting her career on hold for a man, vs a man for a woman. If Robert Siegel's wife were a political advisor, would he be stepping down? (assuming he has one)

By: stupidsexyFlanders

stupidsexyFlanders — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:50:18 -0800

I think that this should be done by any network in any similar situation. Me too. Assuming the judicial branch of the US government counts as a network.

By: stupidsexyFlanders

stupidsexyFlanders — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:53:03 -0800

Also, wouldn't have Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Roberts (née Boggs) had a similar conflict?

By: Leezie

Leezie — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:04:38 -0800

Oh ah? How do you pronounce "Leezie"? As a matter of fact, I pronounce it LEE-ZIE, which is the common French pronunciation my father attached to it during my childhood.

By: BobbyVan

BobbyVan — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:09:25 -0800

I can't imagine having a much more common name like Michelle with a different pronunciation. Must drive her crazy hearing it "wrong" all the time. I wonder if she just gives up with people she's never going to meet again, or if she's a stickler. Well, if you rise to the top of the military ranks, win a ground war in the Middle East and go on to be Secretary of State, you too can have people pronounce your first name "CO-lin."

By: found missing

found missing — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:10:47 -0800

While we're criticizing NPR names, what's up with Jean Cockgrin and Deborah Anus? WTF NPR?

By: rhizome

rhizome — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:25:24 -0800

NPR is where people with fucked-up names go to live, the textual version of "a face made for radio."

By: Linda_Holmes

Linda_Holmes — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:28:11 -0800

I hope you've all found your own NPR name. (For what it's worth, Michele Norris has been really kind to me. And Steve Inskeep laughed when I sassed him on the air during the Royal Wedding. And Linda Wertheimer loves bloody television like True Blood, which I think is rad. Thus conclude my thoughts.)

By: stbalbach

stbalbach — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:29:22 -0800

NPR lost all relevancy a long time ago. Maybe if you got out of Manhatten more.

By: villanelles at dawn

villanelles at dawn — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:31:25 -0800

I think it might have been on metafilter where I learned how you figure out your NPR name: you add the first initial of your middle name to your first and then add the name of the smallest foreign town you've ever visited. For KQED News, I'm Meric Shivrampally.

By: villanelles at dawn

villanelles at dawn — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:31:40 -0800

Scooped!

By: KevinSkomsvold

KevinSkomsvold — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:34:22 -0800

I hope Peter Overby's wife goes to work for Obama.

By: MikeWarot

MikeWarot — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:36:58 -0800

While I value the reportage done by NPR, they are best when they don't sacrifice quality before the altar of "objectivity", which is a bullshit political act trying to shield themselves from accountability. Why try to be a "neutral" version of Fox news? If you get two experts, one says that the Sky is yellow, and the other says it's red, and don't mention the obvious fact that it's blue... you're not doing anyone a service. Far, far to many times I find them doing the equivalent to this. Presenting 2 different views is just a waste of time if there is no examination of the veracity of the claims. We need reporters, not robotic opinion gatherers. NPR has lots of value, don't get me wrong... but this one attribute of theirs is rapidly causing it go down towards zero.

By: hypersloth

hypersloth — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:39:28 -0800

Whenever I hear Robert Siegel I always think oh cool it's the guy who did the TV Funhouse cartoons!

By: IAmBroom

IAmBroom — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:07:56 -0800

I had to stop listening to All Things Considered because Michelle Norris just grated on my nerves, particularly when she was pronouncing her name. Sorry if her name isn't pronounced whitebread-middle-class-Amercun enough for you, Leezie (et al). Something you learn when you travel outside your own state: your dialect is not in fact Standard Correct English(tm). Really, this comment, and others like it in this thread, are really little more than unapologetic, xenophobic bigotry. Bashing someone for daring to pronounce their name as their parents named them? And for that, you stop listening to a show?

By: glaucon

glaucon — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:09:17 -0800

I think the Phineas Gage part of my brain wants to react immediately with frustration: "Grow a pair!" Then I remember today's political climate, especially the fact that anything within 10 feet of Obama is systematically attacked by the conservative machine, and I think, "Probably a good idea." I really think NPR has solid reporting.

By: Rash

Rash — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:36:37 -0800

It's not how she pronounces her name, nor her politics -- it's because she insists on smiling so much while reading the news (even unpleasant stories). My prayers have been answered!

By: Rash

Rash — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:37:49 -0800

Or maybe that's Melissa Block. They should both join Susan Satmberg in retirement.

By: ROU_Xenophobe

ROU_Xenophobe — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:38:34 -0800

Something you learn when you travel outside your own state: your dialect is not in fact Standard Correct English(tm). Curious: is there any region of the US where the name "Michele" or "Michelle" is commonly pronounced as "Mee-shell" instead of "Mih-shell", or where the first syllable is routinely emphasized? I certainly can't think of any other non-francophone who uses that pronunciation.

By: DevilsAdvocate

DevilsAdvocate — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:43:35 -0800

Michele sees shells by the seashore.

By: zzazazz

zzazazz — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:45:08 -0800

If only the Supreme Court had this much honor.

By: sriracha

sriracha — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:12:03 -0800

I'm surprised by how much of this thread has been consumed with criticism of how a person pronounces her name. WTF? I have every expectation that Michele Norris could do her job professionally and without undue bias under these circumstances, but I can also understand taking this step to avoid the utter shitstorm that would be brought by the Republicans if she were to stay in her position. That kind of fight only takes energy away from the mission of the organization.

By: Leezie

Leezie — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:25:16 -0800

Really, this comment, and others like it in this thread, are really little more than unapologetic, xenophobic bigotry. Bashing someone for daring to pronounce their name as their parents named them? And for that, you stop listening to a show? Whoa, partner! Unapologetic, xenophobic bigotry? Really? If it makes you feel better, I also can't stand how Peter Overby pronounces his name. Chill out.

By: Leezie

Leezie — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:26:04 -0800

I'm surprised by how much of this thread has been consumed with criticism of how a person pronounces her name. WTF? Perhaps it was the original title for the thread?

By: ninjew

ninjew — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:44:36 -0800

I have always like her slighty stentorian delivery. I recently had a loaner car with sat radio for a week. so I listened to the NPR Now channel a lot. uh, not to be a jerk, but WHAT in the world is up with Diane Rehm. not a radio voice..

By: villanelles at dawn

villanelles at dawn — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:57:09 -0800

She has spasmodic dysphonia, which is no laughing matter, but I did laugh very much at a tweet a while back from Kieran Healy that ran something like, "Now joining us from her watery grave, Diane Rehm."

By: Diablevert

Diablevert — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:09:12 -0800

See also: "Reporting from Los Angeles in perfect, unaccented English, this is [in heavy accent] Monda-LEE Del BaRRRRco." It's actually really hard to mispronounce a language you know in the way a native speaker of another tongue would. As a hapless foreign exchange student, I found myself unconsciously and irrepressibly saying things like " Bonzheur. Zhe voodray oon packey duh LUCKY STRIKES." seriously, you cannot make yourself say sheek-en mcnooget.

By: girlmightlive

girlmightlive — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:46:07 -0800

This is the right thing to do. It's not catering to the GOP, it's not a woman giving up her career for a man, it's the ethical thing to do by a high profile media person. Just because it's misunderstood doesn't make it wrong.

By: The corpse in the library

The corpse in the library — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:00:11 -0800

> It's irritating, though I'm never quite sure if I should correct people or just let it go. Let it go. Model patience and tolerance for your daughter. I had the same thing happen as a kid all the time and it wasn't a big deal to me.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:24:34 -0800

Oh god this head has got Liza With A Z stuck in my head.

By: RandlePatrickMcMurphy

RandlePatrickMcMurphy — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:43:02 -0800

Well, its not like she's a Supreme Court Justice whose spouse is a conservative lobbyist or something...

By: angrycat

angrycat — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:51:40 -0800

Diane Rehm is the absolute bomb. Give her voice a chance; after a while, like certain peppers, you start to crave it. Also, when she smacks down the occasional guest or reporter, that voice sends chills through you. Also, I have a huge crush on Robert Siegel. I would enjoy being his pet, just to hear the sound of his voice saying mundane things. Also, I love Michelle Norris and will miss her. NPR, like the BBC and the NYT, sometimes fucks up, but like the BBC and the NYT, they strive to be a credible, accountable source of news.

By: spitbull

spitbull — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:08:36 -0800

A pox on the entire operation. It has become a pure lifestyle network, giving its audience the illusion that they are better informed than average.

By: Blasdelb

Blasdelb — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:15:51 -0800

I hope you've all found your own NPR name. Holy shit this is amazing! I'm: Gbob Aix-de-Provence

By: Blasdelb

Blasdelb — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:16:13 -0800

Gbob... I'm going to start calling myself that from now on

By: stargell

stargell — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:17:27 -0800

I stopped listening to NPR after discovering Melvyn Bragg's In Our Time podcasts. They're all available now on iTunes, 11 years' worth. The gap between IOT and NPR, in terms of intellectual engagement and sheer entertainment, is vast.

By: theredpen

theredpen — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:25:39 -0800

What's really not cool is that I can't remember how to pronounce my own NPR name.

By: madajb

madajb — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:00:51 -0800

Let it go. Model patience and tolerance for your daughter. I had the same thing happen as a kid all the time and it wasn't a big deal to me. Yeah, that's what I've been doing. I figure it's going to be something she's gonna have to get used to in her life.* Though, I will admit to using the "proper" pronunciation in the next couple of sentences after someone does it wrong. Just coincidentally, of course. heh. * We had 3 rules for naming our child. The name we ended up with failed all 3.

By: bpm140

bpm140 — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:14:32 -0800

I always love it when Ofeibea Quist-Arcton reports from "Dah-kaaaarrrrrr".

By: GeckoDundee

GeckoDundee — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:24:16 -0800

So what do couples like James Carville and Mary Matalin do?

By: villanelles at dawn

villanelles at dawn — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:25:23 -0800

Passive-aggressively mispronounce each other's names.

By: Leezie

Leezie — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:33:13 -0800

I always love it when Ofeibea Quist-Arcton reports from "Dah-kaaaarrrrrr" Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes.

By: villanelles at dawn

villanelles at dawn — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:37:25 -0800

How have we gotten this far and no one's mentioned Sylvia Poggiooooolli.

By: Eyebrows McGee

Eyebrows McGee — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:26:41 -0800

I thought it was Nichelle until right this very minute. Back on the main topic, when I was in college I was in a small group that got to meet an NYTimes political reporter after she gave a speech, and we were having a wide-ranging and passionate discussion of politics and media, so I asked her for whom she had voted in the last election. She literally blanched and said, in a sort-of strangled tone, that it was a firing offense for her to discuss for whom she had voted. The man who held the post of executive editor at the Washington Post for 17 years fairly famously (and ostentatiously, it was thought in some circles) did not vote.

Q. Is it true you don't vote? Do you ask your staff to do the same? A. I have not voted since becoming managing editor in 1984 because, as the final gatekeeper for all coverage in the Post, I do not want to make up my mind, even in the voting booth, about candidates or issues. I would be pleased if none of our political reporters or editors voted, but it would be unreasonable to ask for that (and I remain the final gatekeeper for all they do). We prohibit all staff members from engaging in any political activity except voting.

Anyway, I think this is probably a fairly good practice for high-quality news organizations, despite obvious and complex questions about "objectivity" in journalism. Avoiding even the appearance of impropriety and all that ...

By: jenfullmoon

jenfullmoon — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:31:00 -0800

Unfortunately, yes, if you marry a politician, it may hamper or kill your career. Connie Schultz has a freaking Pulitzer and had to quit her job recently for the same reason, and there's also Maria Shriver. It's kinda like marrying someone in the military: either one ruins your career prospects. I don't think I could marry someone whose job would tank mine like that, so I guess it's true love. Still kinda sucks, though.

By: villanelles at dawn

villanelles at dawn — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:35:28 -0800

Anyway, I think this is probably a fairly good practice for high-quality news organizations, despite obvious and complex questions about "objectivity" in journalism I much prefer the Economist model of being open about one's opinions; too often everything else of value is sacrificed on the altar of objectivity and you end up with the kind of shenanigans that James Fallows has been complaining about recently.

By: ninjew

ninjew — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:24:42 -0800

How have we gotten this far and no one's mentioned Sylvia Poggiooooolli. posted by villanelles at dawn at 9:37 PM on October 24 I think she stepped down just in time, narrowly averting the great totebag scandal of 2011. And I'm Sylvia Poggioli Ravioli. posted by Sir Cholmondeley at 2:48 PM on October 24 there you go.

By: villanelles at dawn

villanelles at dawn — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:28:10 -0800

I'll go sit in the corner.

By: dglynn

dglynn — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 22:00:19 -0800

Andrea Mitchell has been one of the lead political reporters for NBC while married to Alan Greenspan since 1997.

By: gngstrMNKY

gngstrMNKY — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 02:14:45 -0800

When the Vatican response to the Catholic sex abuse scandal was frequently in the news, I found it darkly comic how Sylvia Poggioli would pop out of her American accent to say "pedophilia" with sing-song Italian prosody.

By: wenestvedt

wenestvedt — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:20:55 -0800

I have never been sure whether it was Nichelle or Michelle. And plenty of other NPR reporters' names were mysteries to me. But I promptly forget that curiousity when I heard the velvet voice of Jacki Lyden (who I would happily listen to recite a list of world capitals, or the 250 largest cities in America, or the first thousand digits of pi. *sigh*). I hope you've all found your own NPR name. Dwill Epping? Wait... Willidam Slough? Willld Füssen? I think I might have to pick up an atlas and pick an accent before I decide.

By: wenestvedt

wenestvedt — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:23:56 -0800

A few weeks ago I heard one NPR anchor call Lourdes Garcia-Navarro (reporting from Baghdad or Jerusalem or Libya or something) the diminutive "Lu-Lu," and I burst out laughing as the poor woman's credibility went all hissing out.

By: IAmBroom

IAmBroom — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:10:30 -0800

Whoa, partner! I'm not your partner. Unapologetic, xenophobic bigotry? Really? If it makes you feel better, I also can't stand how Peter Overby pronounces his name. Nope, hearing that you're even more bigoted and hateful somehow doesn't make anything better, Leezie.

By: ROU_Xenophobe

ROU_Xenophobe — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:34:03 -0800

...but it still isn't xenophobic. More or less by definition you can only be xenophobic about that which is xeno. And Minnesota ain't xeno, not by a long stretch. I should know, neh?

By: GodricVT

GodricVT — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:19:49 -0800

Curious: is there any region of the US where the name "Michele" or "Michelle" is commonly pronounced as "Mee-shell" instead of "Mih-shell", or where the first syllable is routinely emphasized? I certainly can't think of any other non-francophone who uses that pronunciation. Why yes. Many people in the region where I live pronounce it that way (including my mother), and (not surprisingly) around half the people here (natives, anyway) are two or fewer generations removed from a francophonic ancestor.