About

Bad News Writing / Bad Broadcast News Writing

Welcome to BadNewsWriting.com / BadBroadcastNewsWriting.com. I created this site (actually my nephew did) to have a place to put all of my columns and lists and thoughts about bad news writing — in the hopes you’ll write better, using fewer clichés and journalese.

I got my first paycheck as a reporter when I was 10 or 12 when I called in to WLOB-AM in Portland, Maine to report that a large, abandoned mansion was on fire. (Those were the long-ago days when radio stations paid for news tips.) Later, I became an Army broadcast journalist and presidential announcer. When I left active duty I began my trek up the broadcast journalism ladder, from local television and radio reporter and freelance writer to anchoring on the CNN Radio Network and CNN Headline News. I was even a play-by-play announcer for the Ted Turner-owned World Championship Wrestling!

After a 20-year detour into mortgage origination and training (during which I also anchored radio newscasts at various radio stations part-time) I returned to broadcast journalism, first at The Voice of America (a federal agency from which I retired) then to the Westwood One Radio Network, then to WTOP (an all-news station and the top-billing station in the country) and then, at age 62, to the CBS News Radio network.

I enjoy teaching adults and have taught grammar and writing courses to federal employees. If I ever get off my butt I’m going to write a book I’ll call “There Are No Dogs Named Fido — and No Cats Named Fluffy, Either!”

I’m a longtime paid narrator of magazines (including The Sun, International Living, The Week, Kiplinger Personal Finance regularly, and others on occasion) for the Library of Congress. My voice was featured in the Academy Award-nominated movie “The Wrestler.” I know a lot about Watergate, the 1970s, credit scoring, credit repair, pro wrestling, home buying, mortgage loans, the Vietnam War, grammar and Glen Campbell.  I’m fascinated by the census and demographics (too late in life I realized I should have become a demographer).

I’m sure I’ve left a lot of stuff out, but I’m also sure you’re bored by now; I’ll send this to my nephew so he can post it.

You can email me at ChristopherCruise@badnewswriting.com