Memo to U.S. news media: Please remember to refer to the head of any government office as a Czar.

The following directive to the nation’s news media was discovered on the Internet somewhere:

To all editors, reporters, anchor-people and journalism college interns who haven’t yet applied for PR jobs:

The Food and Drug Administration today named David Acheson, M.D., as the newly created Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection.  An FDA news release said that Dr. Acheson will “provide advice and counsel on strategic and substantive food safety and food defense matters.”

That’s all well and good, of course.  But what is most important is that you refer to Dr. Acheson by his proper American news media title:  Food Safety Czar. 

The FDA erred by not using “Czar” in its official press release.  However, note these examples of news outlets that correctly use the preferred title to ensure factual accuracy and context in covering this important story:

Reuters |  FDA names food safety czar

LA Times  |  Food safety put on new czar's plate at FDA 

Connecticut Post  |  Food Safety Czar to Oversee Purity of U.S. Pantry

Please remember that any director of a large government entity should be referred to as the Subject-matter Czar, even if that official displays no similarity to any of the pre-revolution Russian emperors.  This will help Americans understand news about their government.  And that is why we are here.

Thank you for your attention to this important detail.

Floyd Fiebish
Pop Media Czar

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Comments

[Anita Campbell]

I love it! This is hilarious -- and sadly, all too true.