HMPRESENTLY: Ellipsis Journalism

I’m becoming a three-dot writer.

Herb Caen, a longtime San Francisco Chronicle columnist — from 1938 to 1997, I believe — pioneered three dot journalism… when he strategically separated thoughts, sentences, phrases, and such, with three dots…

This also is known as an ‘ellipsis,’ I discovered online… but it’s easier saying ‘three-dot journalism,’ than ‘ellipsis journalism.’

Well anyway… in the early-morning business news, the other day, an apparel company’s improved financial circumstances were being attributed, in part, to lower air freight costs. But what about the firm’s core business, as they say, in business? Did I also hear the word, ‘maximizing,’ in reference to the company, suggesting its management team might be getting the most from managing, in this instance, air freight overhead? And perhaps a few other things.

Also in the news, a Republican Party official, attempting to explain former President Trump’s big lead over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and some other potential GOP presidential hopefuls, describing this rather odd phenomenon, considering Mr. Trump’s troubles, by suggesting this is some sort of Republican thing.

“We try to go with someone who is familiar,” noted the official.

Which could cause folks to wonder… Suppose someone like Attila the Hun was the GOP Party’s candidate of choice? All because of familiarity?

One thing seeming way more logical… Daily Post Editor Bill Hudson’s observations about schooling and education, in his editorial series, and Mr. Hudson wondering… “How much does the average American retain from 13-plus years of education?” And suggesting “that whatever gets retained generally involves active participation, and very little involves passive ‘listening to a lecture.’”

That stirred memories, when, during holiday breaks from sitting in lecture halls at school, I worked at a large department store.

I had the good fortune of working with — rather than working for — a patio furniture department manager, who involved everyone working full-time, and me, working only briefly, at times, in the real world of business sales, marketing, and customer relations.

Some of my journalism professors, and an English professor, at school, had us learning by doing, I should point out, while other teachers lectured, primarily.

One more thing, to get something bipartisan, of sorts, in this column, since I’ve already mentioned Republicans…

When reporters were urging President Biden to comment on what Governor DeSantis was suggesting recently, that if he’s elected president, he would seriously consider pardoning Mr. Trump, if the former president winds up… shall we say, in the slammer?…

President Biden chuckled, waved and walked away.

“I’ll see you guys,” he said over his shoulder. “Great question.”

Harvey Radin

Harvey Radin is former senior vice president in charge of corporate communications and media relations, Bank of America Western Region. He makes his home in Redwood City, CA.