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In 2012, no-one died
editOne of the strengths Wikipedia has over a traditional encyclopedia is the speed at which articles can be updated to reflect new events. Sometimes, though, scraps of information added piecemeal over time can make parts of an article look little more than a bulleted list. Jameboy coined the term “”in 1985 no-one died” writing to describe this. The BBC comedy The Day Today once had a sketch about a swimming pool attendant, played by Steve Coogan. Someone once died while he was on duty, but he is affronted by the suggestion that this was due to negligence on his part. As he put it:
I’ve been working for 18 years. In 1975, no-one died. In 1976, no-one died. In 1977, no-one died. In 1978, no-one died. In 1979, no-one died. In 1980, someone died. In 1981, no-one died. In 1982, there was the incident with the pigeon. In 1983, no-one died. In 1984, no-one died. In 1985, no-one died. In 1986...I mean I could go on.
— The Swimming Pool Attendant
Putting the date when something happened is an easy way to add a sentence in, but left unchecked, it soon becomes “no-one died” writing. “No-one died” writing often leads to other gremlins.
On 14 September 2012, it was announced that no-one died.
Announcements are what you hear over the tannoy in a train station or airport, or read under a column marked “Births Marriages Deaths”. Wikipedia articles contain referenced prose, not lists of announcements. Please, if you see an outbreak of “it was announced” disease, try to rework the text so that it fits in with the surrounding paragraphs.