Current Events > Why do some news posts/articles say "we" when posted by one author?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Is it because the editors ran a train over the article so it can't be described as one person's opinion any more? Or some sort of journalism policy?

Like sometimes they'll say something like "Go ahead and name something better than x. We'll wait." Sounds so weird. What an annoying practice.

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My guess is it refers to their organization but you'd have to give me some examples to work with.
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Eevee-Trainer posted...

My guess is it refers to their organization but you'd have to give me some examples to work with.

I gave one in the OP

Cracked also did this all the time from what I remember. Phrases that are blatantly used as a familiar manner of speaking have their "I" replaced with "we" and "me" replaced with "us" systematically even if it doesn't make sense as an expression anymore

I gave one in the OP

I find it hard to think a news source worth taking seriously would be that snarky but okay.
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The only example I had in mind is this whatever facebook page that tried to sponsor their way into my news feed. But I see it a lot elsewhere. The expressions themselves are not the point

Because as a contracted writer for a website, you represent the site as a whole in your work.
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It's a defence mechanism for the author by way of depersonalization. The author gives the text more credibility because it feels less like one guy opinion and more like a well thought out and reviewed material. In reference to the OP 'we'll wait' sounds a lot less hostile than 'I'll wait'. Also if it's something like buzzfeed they use we because when you read a piece they want you to feel 'this is a buzzfeed piece' not 'this is a John Smith piece who works for buzzfeed.' It helps build a connection between the company and the reader rather than the author and the reader.
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EpicMickeyDrew posted...

Also if it's something like buzzfeed they use we because when you read a piece they want you to feel 'this is a buzzfeed piece' not 'this is a John Smith piece who works for buzzfeed.' It helps build a connection between the company and the reader rather than the author and the reader.

So basically being dishonest to manipulate plebs into liking them. Classy

Cartwheel_Kick posted...

So basically being dishonest to manipulate plebs into liking them. Classy

It's not dishonesty, it's assigning agency
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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nosism
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