Blogger slams, blasts slamming, blasting

In 12th grade my journalism teacher taught us to use "power verbs." But are some power verbs being overused by journalists?

Take a look at the rampant international trend of "slamming:"

Donovan slams Beckham as bad teammate (Austin American-Statesman)

Govt slams N Korea missile tests (ABC)

White House slams GOP document search on Sotomayor (AP)

Investigator slams school management for being bad employer (New Zealand Herald).

Helen Thomas Slams Obama Administration for Controlling Media (Associated Content).

GOP 'survey' slams Obama (CNN).

'Transformers' director Michael Bay slams Megan Fox (The Examiner).

And now, "blasting:"

Donovan blasts Beckham (New Straits Times).

Murkowksi Blasts Palin: You Abandoned Our State (Huffington Post).

Cotler blasts Germany's economic support for Iran (Jerusalem Post).

Nelson blasts Legislature on taxes (East Oregonian).

Porritt blasts Treasury 'arrogance' (UK Guardian).

Jon Stewart Blasts Beck for Bin Laden Bull (The Nation).

Cooley blasts Schwarzenegger plan to change sentencing guidelines (Los Angeles Times).

These examples are easy to find. Too easy. Trust me, you will never read the news again.

The thing is in that all of these examples the "blasting" or "slamming" is actually far from what any of us would refer to as a slam or blast. It is usually a slight innuendo that is blown out of proportion. In fact, in many instances you can tell that the person doing the slamming or blasting is actually being cornered by a journalist.

Example:

JOURNALIST: Scott, do you like your mom's new haircut?

SCOTT: I really liked my mom's last haircut, but this one is nice too.

HEADLINE: Scott blasts Mom's haircut: last one was better.