For journalists, the answer depends on whether they are covering the shopping season or company layoffs.
______________________
Last year, I sensed that journalists in general prefer to call this time of the year in commerce that of "holiday shopping" instead of "Christmas shopping," but that when it came to people losing their jobs, they preferred to describe layoffs as relating to "Christmas."
My instincts were proven correct, as you can see below from the results of three different sets of Google News searches in November and December (links to last year's related posts are here, here, and here):
I've decided to track the same items this year to see if there is any noticeable change or trend.
Based on the first set of Google News searches during this Christmas season, I would say there is:
Wal-Mart, Macy's, and others may be embracing "Christmas" as a permissible word again, but reporting about shopping during the 2006 Christmas season is leaning more towards "holiday shopping" than it did at about the same time last year. But the inclination to associate layoffs with Christmas has increased significantly this year compared to last.
I will do identicial searches roughly two and four weeks from now, and report on the results.
So far, what I concluded at the end of last year (with minor editing) is proving true again this year:
It seems beyond dispute that there is a strong bias against using the word “Christmas” to describe not only the shopping season, as noted above, but also events, parades, and festivals that happen during the Christmas season. There is, however, a bit of an exception -- "Christmas" is a word that is much more acceptable to use when "Scrooge" employers are letting people go.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
—Tom Blumer is president of a training and development company in Mason, Ohio, and is a contributing editor to NewsBusters
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How does year-end layoffs c
November 26, 2006 - 16:11 ET by ding7777How does year-end layoffs compare with your choice of holiday vs christmas?
Layoffs
November 26, 2006 - 16:34 ET by Tom BlumerThe term in quotes has zero hits in Google News.
The term not in quotes has 97. Many of the stories that have both words are about situations not involving actual year-end layoffs. That is less likely in stories that have the the word "holiday," "holidays," or "Chrismas" plus the word "layoffs."
MERRY CHRISTMAS CNN, ABC, CBS
November 26, 2006 - 17:00 ET by Andrew H.MERRY CHRISTMAS CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, New York Times, Los Angeles Times and all our liberal friends in the media!
Never relent.
WOW...a little extra time on
November 26, 2006 - 22:30 ET by balboaWOW...a little extra time on your hands there, Thomas?
So I assume "Christmas" is used with bad news to further the attack on Christians?
Great idea for a blog entry.
November 27, 2006 - 00:31 ET by Tony SGreat idea for a blog entry. As much as I like to pick apart what the media does, I would never thought to have done this. Nice work.
bal the mean poster
November 27, 2006 - 01:06 ET by SportPoliticsbal, you can make snide remarks about extra time toward a good lead that proves the bias, while you still "assume" your position of liberal hatred coupled with blatantly ignorant pretend skepticism.
Of course, maybe you are too stupid to comprehend the lead article. My mistake if you're so dumb you shouldn't be here.
So I assume "balboa" is posting his bad views to further his attacks on this site ?
bal
November 27, 2006 - 02:08 ET by Tom BlumerYawn.... I explained myself quite well already.
So why do you think this tren
November 27, 2006 - 10:27 ET by balboaSo why do you think this trend exists?
Trend
November 27, 2006 - 13:13 ET by Tom BlumerWithout looking at the various media stylebooks and speaking to news execs, I'm unable to determine how much of it is a top-down dictate, and how much of it reflects reporters' deliberate choices of words.
All I did is investigate and record observations. Perhaps you can give us the benefit of any insights you might have.
If I were to hazard a guess,
November 27, 2006 - 13:19 ET by balboaIf I were to hazard a guess, I'd say that the word "Christmas" is used with bad news because it packs more of an emotional punch. "Christmas layoffs" is designed to tug at the heart strings. "Holiday" is used in the other situations most likely because of the PC notion that it's more inclusive.
xmas
November 27, 2006 - 16:34 ET by Tom BlumerIf that is indeed the case, doesn't that strike you as less than objective, and also not very consistent?
It's not consistent, but...so
November 27, 2006 - 16:43 ET by balboaIt's not consistent, but...so? You can justify the use of Christmas as saying the situation would resound more with readers. I think there's wiggle room in when to use Holiday Season and Christmas when reporting.
We
November 27, 2006 - 22:18 ET by Tom BlumerWe definitely disagree on that, esp vis-a-vis fair and balanced reporting. The direction of the choices is to say the least, interesting, as my original point at the end of the post stated.
It should always be christmas
November 27, 2006 - 22:33 ET by ChemicalOperatorIt should always be christmas, since of course thats what the holiday is all about. The whole reason for the holiday was to celebrate the birth of christ. It doesnt need to be more inclusive, if people dont want to believe in christ and celebrate his birth thats fine. That just means they dont celebrate the christmas holiday.
This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.
Merry Christmas with no quota
November 27, 2006 - 04:54 ET by Andrew H.Merry Christmas with no quotation marks. MERRY CHRISTMAS. THat's what many of us celebrate December 25--Christmas.
Never relent.
.a little extra time on you
November 27, 2006 - 13:18 ET by Jack Bauer.a little extra time on your hands there,
Stlll considerably less time than you spend posting here, I suspect bal.
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