Dick Cheney, shown here in 2008, has not as of this writing shot anyone in the face with the gun he is holding.
With Dick Cheney in the news again, it's important to offer consistency when reporting on him. While the former Vice-President is a historic figure, it's important to offer readers pertinent facts about him when he's included in stories.
Here are some examples.
WRONG: Former Vice-President Dick Cheney, on his way to open heart surgery ....
RIGHT: Former Vice-President Dick Cheney, who once shot a man in the face with a shotgun, is on his way to open heart surgery ...
WRONG: Dick Cheney took off the gloves and let his dukes fly in an all-out assault ...
RIGHT: Dick Cheney, who once shot a man in the face with a shotgun, took the off the gloves and let his dukes fly ...
It's also recommended to give people status updates on whether the former Vice-President has shot anyone else recently when ending stories.
WRONG: Cheney is largely credited during his tenure in office with being one of the chief architects of the 2003 Iraq invasion, which in turn unleashed a crippling civil war in the country.
RIGHT: Cheney is largely credited during his tenure in office with being one of the chief architects of the 2003 Iraq invasion, which in turn unleashed a crippling civil war in the country. Former Vice-President Cheney has not shot anyone else in the face with a shotgun since 2006.
NOTE: It is not necessary to note that the former Vice-President was not charged with criminal negligence for shooting a man in the face in 2006. Most people would logically assume that a former Vice-President would not be charged with any crimes for shooting a man in the face in 2006.
We hope this style guide will help when reporting on former Vice-President Dick Cheney, who shot a man in the face with a shotgun in 2006 and has never faced criminal charges.