Passive Voice In Newspapers: A Deep Dive

Mastering the Art of Passive Voice in Newspaper Writing

Hey everyone! Today, we're diving deep into a topic that often pops up in the world of journalism and writing: passive voice in newspapers. You might have heard that it's something to avoid, but guys, it's a bit more nuanced than that. Understanding when and why newspapers use passive voice can seriously level up your own writing game, whether you're crafting a news report, an essay, or even just a killer email. Let's break down what passive voice actually is, why it's so prevalent in news, and how you can use it effectively (or know when to steer clear).

What Exactly IS Passive Voice, Anyway?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of newspapers, let's get our heads around the concept of passive voice itself. In a nutshell, passive voice occurs when the subject of a sentence receives the action, rather than performing it. Think about it like this: in active voice, the subject does the verb. For example, "The reporter wrote the article." Here, "reporter" is the subject, and they are actively performing the action of "writing." Easy peasy, right?

Now, switch it over to passive voice: "The article was written by the reporter." See the difference? The subject, "article," is now receiving the action of being written. The 'doer' of the action (the reporter) is either moved to the end of the sentence in a "by" phrase or, sometimes, omitted entirely. So, "The article was written" is a classic passive construction. You'll often spot it by looking for a form of the verb 'to be' (is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been) followed by a past participle (like written, seen, reported, attacked, etc.).

Why Do Newspapers Lean on Passive Voice?

This is where things get super interesting, guys. You might be thinking, "If active voice is so direct, why would news outlets use passive voice?" Well, there are several strategic reasons. One of the biggest drivers is objectivity and neutrality. Newspapers aim to present information factually, and sometimes, focusing on the event itself rather than the person performing the action helps maintain that distance. For instance, instead of "Police arrested the suspect," a newspaper might report, "The suspect was arrested." This puts the focus squarely on the arrest – the event – and less on the officers who made it. It's a subtle shift, but it contributes to a more detached, factual tone that readers often expect from news.

Another key reason is to emphasize the recipient of the action. Imagine a story about a new policy being implemented. The sentence "The new policy will be announced next week" places the emphasis on the policy, which is likely the most crucial element of the story for the reader. If it were active, like "The government will announce the new policy next week," the focus shifts slightly to the 'who' (the government), which might be less important than the 'what' (the policy itself).

Furthermore, passive voice can be a lifesaver when the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or obvious. Think about crime reporting: "A car was stolen overnight." We don't know who stole it, and for the initial report, that's not the main point. Or consider something like, "The meeting was held yesterday." It's understood that someone held the meeting; the important information is the fact that it occurred. Using passive voice here avoids unnecessary words and keeps the sentence concise.

Finally, passive voice can help smooth transitions and maintain sentence flow. Sometimes, placing the recipient of the action at the beginning of the sentence creates a better logical connection to the preceding sentence, leading to a more coherent paragraph. It's all about guiding the reader smoothly through the information, even if it means bending the 'active voice is always best' rule.

When to Use Passive Voice (and When NOT To)

Now that we know why newspapers use it, let's talk about how you can use it. The golden rule, as with most things in writing, is balance and purpose. Don't fall into the trap of using passive voice everywhere just because newspapers do. It can make your writing sound stuffy, evasive, or just plain clunky if overused.

Use passive voice when:

• You want to be objective: As we discussed, it helps remove the 'actor' and focus on the event. "Mistakes were made" is a classic (and often criticized) example, but the intent is to avoid naming who made the mistakes.
• The actor is unknown, unimportant, or obvious: "The bank was robbed." "Dinner is served." "The package has been delivered."
• You need to emphasize the recipient of the action: "The victim was rushed to the hospital." The victim's condition is the priority here.
• You want to create a smoother sentence flow or transition: Connecting ideas logically by starting with the more relevant piece of information, even if it's the receiver of the action.
• You're reporting scientific or technical findings: Often, the process or result is more important than the researcher. "The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions."

Avoid passive voice when:

• You want to be direct and forceful: Active voice is almost always more powerful and engaging. "The team won the championship" is much stronger than "The championship was won by the team."
• You need to assign responsibility: If someone did something wrong, active voice makes it clear who is accountable. Passive voice can sound like an attempt to dodge responsibility.
• You want to avoid wordiness: Passive constructions often use more words than their active counterparts.
• Your writing feels weak or vague: If your sentences lack energy, chances are you're leaning too heavily on passive voice.

Spotting Passive Voice Like a Pro

Okay, guys, let's do a quick practice round. How do you actually spot passive voice in the wild? Look for those tell-tale signs we mentioned: a form of 'to be' followed by a past participle. Some common examples you'll see in newspapers:

• "A new bridge is being built downtown." (Subject: bridge, Action: being built)
• "The suspect was apprehended late last night." (Subject: suspect, Action: apprehended)
• "Proposals have been submitted by several companies." (Subject: proposals, Action: submitted)
• "The investigation will be completed by Friday." (Subject: investigation, Action: completed)

See a pattern? The subject isn't doing the action; it's having the action done to it. It's a crucial skill for both readers and writers to develop, helping you understand the subtle choices journalists make.

The Takeaway: Use It Wisely!

So, to wrap things up, passive voice in newspapers isn't just a grammatical oopsie; it's often a deliberate choice used to achieve specific journalistic goals like objectivity, emphasis, and flow. While active voice generally makes for more dynamic and engaging writing, understanding and strategically employing passive voice can add a powerful tool to your writing arsenal. Don't be afraid of it, but don't overuse it either. Use it with purpose, understand its impact, and your writing will be all the better for it. Keep practicing, keep writing, and you'll master this nuance in no time! Cheers!