Journalese

Journalistic language is full of cliches which makes news boring to read. Is there a compulsion to use certain words, or are all journalists given a limited-word dictionary to use? Or their editors?

Why is it that the Finance Minister always "mops up" a few thousand crores from his new tax? Can't he simply add to his kitty (which he also does, sometimes, because that's another cliche). Why are politicians always on a "whirlwind" tour of their constituencies, and why is "security tightened in view of a warning from intelligence agencies"? If it's already tight, does security get strangled by further tightening?

Why does CBI always have to "grill" a suspect, as if he is a piece of chicken, or other grillable commodity? Can't they simply do a normal interrogation? Why does the Supreme court only "lambast" or "come down heavily" on the government? Can it not simply ask them for an explanation in a civilised manner?

Why does the Sensex always "crash" and not lose its weight, or simply come down? Why are festivals celebrated with "gusto" all over the country, and why do opposition leaders always "lambast" the budget presented by their opposition-the ruling party? Can't they just criticise it, for once?

More questions than answers.