Spreading the love on TV screens near you

Sitting in an American airport lounge waiting for my flight, I was drawn to the TV set by some breaking news that Delta and Northwest Airlines were to merge.   The announcement was a big moment for both companies and was being headlined on CNN.    It struck me that in places like airline lounges a great deal of news is consumed on giant TVs with the sound turned low.    So the strap the news channel writes is the first and lasting (and possibly only) impression many viewers will get of your story.  Some, like me, will be drawn closer to the screen to hear more.  Others will park the information in their minds.   But what do you do if the strap is not to your liking?  Answer: unless it is factually inaccurate - nothing.   The straps are not usually written by the reporters, but the production desk of the news channel.  If the strap is inaccurate, you should always challenge it quickly.   But ringing to say you don't like their "take" on the story, unless it is manifestly unfair, is pointless and won't win you credit.

In this case, full marks to the Delta/NorthWest merger press team.   With a nod to Delta's cheesy but fun Spreading the Love ad campaign CNN wrote the strap SPREADING THE CHEAP AIR FARES LOVE.    It brought me to the screen and I doubt that the airlines were unhappy with the summary.  If it was the only thing you saw of the story, it did the trick.