Skip to main content

frowny-face journalism 

A subset of the more general human interest story, frowny-face journalism takes some boring, abstract, impersonal policy change or social problem, takes a big photo of some sad children whose playcentre is closing, an old couple who are being forced out of their subsidised housing or, in this case, a recently unemployed man losing his home(s). This way, readers automatically know what to think about the story - generally 'awwwww'.
"Did you read that article about the sad children whose playcentre was bulldozed down and replaced with a right-wing lobby group headquarters?"

"Was it Frowny-face journalism"

"it made me go awwww"

frowny-face journalism 

Frowny-face journalism is a subset of the more general human interest story, which takes some boring, abstract, impersonal policy change or social problem, uses a large photo to illustrate the sadness of the story (e.g.crying children whose playcentre is closing or an old couple who are being forced out of their subsidised housing). As a consequence, readers automatically know what to think about the story - generally 'awwwww'. This is bad enough in itself, but there is an added danger: that of taking the analogy between the sad individual and the social issue too far.
Reading such stories is a common cause of news-rage
Example of a frowny-face journalism piece from the New Zealand Herald "Bruce Burgess, 60 years old and a qualified engineer, has been busy his entire adult life. Aside from a couple of years overseas in the early 1970s, he has worked, paid his taxes and saved his money.
His wife Jo has held down regular work as an office administrator and accounts person. Neither of them smoke, they don't take extravagant holidays, and drink only occasionally."
It makes you go "awwww"

Frowny Face

A tweet sent by a coworker in an effort to make a pass at the receiver.
"I was minding my own business on the futon when the man with the van sent me a frowny face. What do i do?"
Frowny Face by Bitch (o) (o) August 23, 2011

Shackteâu

A Shackteau is a humble, weather-beaten, structurally questionable shelter located in a spectacular or highly coveted place—Wales, Jackson Hole, Sun Valley, Crested Butte, coastal Maine, the Alps—where the building itself may be worth almost nothing, but the dirt, view, access, and mythology make it absurdly valuable.
In use:
Shackteâu - We thought it was an abandoned shed until the realtor called it a rare alpine Shackteâu with unobstructed views and listed it for $2 million.
Shackteâu by ez-dog June 4, 2026
Word of the Day on June 5, 2026
Sonion comes from a GIF that is a mix of the word son and onion ( if you use this slang you like dih)
Man 1 says "I drank last night I need a break" Man 2 "Sonion"
Sonion by popularloner67 March 11, 2026
Word of the Day on June 4, 2026

breatharian 

One whos diet consists of air, light, and prana, with a possible sip of water now and then.
The breatharian has air, light, and prana for food.
breatharian by leena gabor November 8, 2005
Word of the Day on June 3, 2026