Reports of vomit streaming down windows as more than 100 University of Canterbury students fall ill, with cause of stomach bug being investigated
I would describe 100 people shitting themselves and throwing up as carnage lol. It’s not the same carnage left by a warzone, or the carnage left in the wake of a black friday sale, or the carnage that happens in a 10 car pileup.
You can take issue with “slammed” being overused or “carnage” being too flashy or something, but to say it amounts to malpractice and is a result of stupidity or low standards is not really fair imo. People use metaphorical language and hyperbole. It’s fine and normal
Also, I linked another article using carnage “incorrectly” and I thought that is what you were referring to. The writing quality is fine so I was not sure why you said it was low
I haven’t had to write in a news style too often, but headlines (from AP guidelines at least) are meant to stand entirely on their own and without context.
While I agree that language can and should change, the use of hyperbole, slang, or cliches in a headline can negatively impact the clarity of the headline, which is most important.
Does something like decimate or carnage have two widely accepted meanings now? Then as an editor, I would caution against their use in a headline. Something like “Hundreds sickened in suspected mass food poisoning at New Zealand university” seems fine and is without clickbait.