“As of this writing,” this post is correct.
Former Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon (Helene C. Stikkel, CIV)
BY VICTOR PENNEY
“As of this writing.” It’s a term that never makes headlines, but gets thrown around a lot in journalism. It’s mostly there to save face, and more importantly, to save jobs. It might sound like scapegoat on the surface, but there’s a good reason for it.
There comes a time when writers and editors must put a story to bed, tuck it in, check under the bed for monsters and turn out the lights. Deadlines are a pain that way, but hey, eventually you’ve got to run that damn story. That’s what you’re in business for. Sometimes, though, that little factor we like to call time becomes a factor.
Recently we saw this at the coal mine in the United States. Cheers turned to tears, and much worse, when the families of 13 trapped miners were told 12 of the men had survived while one had not been so lucky. Hours later, when newspapers had gone to print with headlines shouting about “Miner Miracles!” the news came out that there had been a mis-communication and that the survival numbers were actually the other way around. By the time the morning newspapers arrived on their doorsteps, they were already outdated, but at the time they were written, they were perfectly correct.
In that case, the life and death drama made for great morning television, but only had a direct impact on the families and friends of those involved. As of this writing, there’s another timely tale unfolding with broader implications for everyone living across the Middle East.
As of this writing, reports say Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is fighting for his life after some emergency surgery to stop bleeding in his brain. By the time you read this, he could be dead. Right now he’s still alive, sedated, but alive. The story doesn’t sound like much: Some old dude on his deathbed–real circle of life crap. The fallout, though, could send ripples of angst and violence through the region for years to come.
If he dies, Israel won’t have a Prime Minister for a short time. Except for maybe a few privileged individuals, no one really knows who’ll be Sharon’s replacement. But Israel is heading into elections in March, so are the Palestinian people later this month, at least they’re supposed to.
Tensions are running high in the area. Militants affiliated with the ruling Fatah Party have been storming government buildings demanding jobs and trying to push their own agenda. Ah, politics at the end of a gun barrel. It might not be the “democracy” everyone knows and loves, but guns make people stand up and listen or cower and run in fear.
Does their message get lost in the violence, or do the guns help get a point across and assert authority? Either way, the instability is casting doubt on whether the Palestinian elections will be held on time, which could severely set back what little progress has been made towards peace in the area recently.
It could all be a giant goat rodeo as far as we’re concerned, and yes, goat rodeo is a real term. You should look it up and try working the phrase into a conversation. As of this writing, anything is possible. iT!
Victor Penney is a television news writer, and editor, in Canada. He’s been in the business for the past four years. He’s also worked on air and behind the scenes for local radio in Toronto, Ontario.
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