Jargon busters

IN THIS week's edition of the Tribune, we have two in-depth features on major issues affecting the area.

The first is about the proposal to co-locate North Warwickshire and Hinckley College and King Edward VI College on a new town centre site.

The second is about the new Virgin Trains timetable which will see a drastic reduction in fast trains to London from Nuneaton.

Both of these stories are having a major impact on people's lives.

The college could herald a bright new dawn for learners, but there are also concerns it could cause traffic chaos and parking havoc.

On the issue of trains, protestors believe that cutting fast services to London will seriously damage the local economy, not to mention inconvenience travellers.

Train bosses say it's all about demand, and we don't have enough of it.

Both these stories are complex and in circumstances like that, the key thing for journalists is to make sure everything is simple to understand.

You have to be a bit of a jack of all trades to be a reporter.

You must be able to understand everything from council agendas to law courts, and Mothers' Union reports to House of Commons debates.

Sometimes it's easy to get seduced by the jargon and terminology we have to deal with every day, and the danger is that we pass that on to the reader.

But we need to avoid using things like "traffic impact assessment", "capital receipts" and "regional spatial strategy".

Some people, used to working with these terms, will be fully aware of what they mean but a golden rule for journalists is never assume - it makes an ass out of you and me.

We try and simplify these kinds of phrases to get to the heart of the story.

That means we report the facts in an easy to read way, and that should mean you all get the information you need to keep informed on the issues at the heart of our community.