Tragedy Fuels Breathless Press Release!!

When a news story breaks somewhere where cameras are present, we  can usually anticipate the emailed press release we'll receive a few hours later from Zuma Press, announcing that they have photos of the event—often through a licensing deal the agency signed with the newspaper closest to the scene.   Even if the announcements reach us hours after the photos have been moved, they're written in a tone of salivating excitement. And sometimes that's, well, unseemly.

Here's their announcement about yesterday's tragic bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Note the punctuation:

Breaking News!

EXCLUSIVE IMAGE! Freeway bridge collapses into Mississippi River during rush hour in Minneapolis, with at least six people are dead, dozens more are injured, some critically. The Interstate 35 bridge, under repair between St. Paul and Minneapolis, breaks into several huge sections and falls into the water with vehicles. An estimated 50 vehicles plunged into the water and onto the land below.RESTRICTIONS: USA Tabloid RIGHTS OUT! Mags and TV Call 949.481.3747 For Price !!

A total of five exclamation points.  People died, many are injured. Doesn't decorum demand a two-exclamation-point limit?

Comments

[L. Ramirez]

Exclamation points seldom have a place in journalism, period. Professionals in the communication business ought to be able to express urgency and drama without the favorite punctation mark of 13-year-old diarists and tabloid headline writers. Purge that press release of all the !!!!'s and it's perfectly fine.
The author needs and editor.

[Camilla]

The ! may be a tad over-used in the alert, however it's not as if the article/alert is going out for the public to read or see. It's going directly to the photo editors at magazines - to make them aware that they have the exclusive rights to Star Tribune's photos. So really it's the PDN commentary I could do without.

[Jimmy]

Just because something isn't read by the public means it's justifiable to be crass? I guess anything goes when someone has EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS!!!! Shame on you Zuma and Camilla.

[Camilla]

Jimmy, the fact that you equate exclamation points, a punctuation mark mind you, as being crass proves without a doubt that you're a hyper-sensitive idiot. The truth is people are jealous that they don't have the exclusive rights to the images - and I assume you're one of those sad people. Get a life and quit whining.

[Sam]

Camilla, my friend, I for one share no interest in exclusive images and can lay claim to no jealousy of those in possession of said images. In believing that it is crass to so easily forget both one's self and the reality of others so recently hurt I am not simply responding but thinking primarily as another person, specifically one with at least a modicum of empathy. You are entitled to your calculation, of course, as Zuma Press is entitled to its efforts to efficiently capitalize on the event, but neither of you should deny that your interest in the business of the matter is that much greater than in the humanity of the matter. Shame on you both, indeed.