Sunday Rest: newsotainment.

The word newsotainment has recently been used by the Guardian Newspaper journalist Marina Hyde to describe a new TV News Channel. 

The channel is so new, in fact, that it hasn't actually broadcast a word, yet, so in this context the word is an insult rather than a criticism.

What's so depressing about this word? 

Two things, as far as I'm concerned.

First, the idea that the news can float free of the truth. I know that truth is a slippery concept, but, really, it's incumbent upon broadcasters to maintain some contact with it. That might even be why the person telling us the news is called an anchor.

Second (and worst of all) is the implication that telling the truth can't be entertaining.

Well, that's my career written-off, then.

Word Not To Use Today: newsotainment. The word news comes from the Middle English word newes, which means new things. The word entertainment comes from the Old French entretenir. The entre- bit implies everyone together, and the tenir bit means to hold.

Those were the days, eh?