Journalists everywhere, no doubt, use stock phrases to describe the events they report on, but they may be more evident in a foreign language, rather than in one’s own where they are, as it were, part of the furniture. Greek reporters seem particularly prone to this habit, and especially in local media such as the Haniotika Nea. Thus, criticisms of politicians by other politicians are always “sfodres epitheseis” (withering attacks), damage to property and crops from natural phenomena are always “vivlikes catastrofes”(biblical catastrophes), and the victims of such catastrophes are always described as “se apognosi” (in a state of desperation), especially if government help seems to be slow in coming.