Limitations in digital press language in Maracaibo and its impact
Abstract
This article examines linguistic performance in three Maracaibo digital news sites (La Verdad, Versión Final, Noticia al Día) and how it affects clarity, accuracy, and credibility. A purposive sample of 60 stories published January–June 2025 (20 per out- let) was coded in headlines and leads across five categories: generic/impersonal verbs; value-laden adjectives; subjective -ly adverbs; punctuation lapses (commas, quotation marks, all caps); and infla- ted or non-faithful structural formulas. Frequencies were tabulated and illustrative cases were anno- tated with edited rewrites. Results show heavy re- liance on imprecise action verbs and institutional booster adjectives; punctuation problems cluster in quick crime briefs. Comparison with style guidance (RTVE, FundéuRAE, AP, BBC) and fact-checking frameworks supports ten low‑cost editorial fixes: verb red-lists, adjective trims, data-driven headline templates, quotation control, and routine source/ figure checks. Findings provide practical tools for regional newsrooms and journalism training pro- grams operating in resource-constrained digital en- vironments.
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