Irritating AP Habit
 

I've noticed this incredibly often, but have never said anything. Now I wonder...is anyone else irritated about the lack of lists in Associated Press articles? Maybe it's just small sample size, but in two articles, I have seen stupid little segments like:


Or



Don't both of these instances practically scream for a nice, concise list? At least the second has all the information you need, just in a really crappy format. The first instance mentions the Warriors' opening-night roster, and then doesn't tell you what it is.


Maybe it's just my proclivity for text-based simulations and desire for neat, concise information in an easily accessible format, but geez this is irritating to me.

Those almost read like broadcast wire copy instead of print wire copy, i.e. written to be read aloud instead of read silently. There's probably a better way to explain what I mean, but dogged if I know what it is.

Usually there's a print wire piece that clears separately on stories like this that's just what you're talking about -- a straight down list that looks something like

(Dateline)
2005 American League Gold Glove Recipients
C - Mike Piazza, Yankees
1B - Adam LaRoche, Braves
2B - Chuck Knoblauch, Twins
etc. etc. etc.

Yeah, I get what you're saying. I just wish the editors would take a little time to touch it up -- I mean both instances above would take about 3 seconds to type a little blurb at the end.

Ah well...pet peeves are great eh?