Mr. Who? Officer What? Post-Gazette style rules explained
“Why does the Post-Gazette call the defendant ‘Mr. Rosfeld’ and the deceased ‘Antwon?’” It’s a question readers have asked lately.
The answer lies in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s conventions for identifying people. Newspapers have rules for naming people and attempt to follow them consistently across news stories.
The Post-Gazette’s style rules require that on the first mention of a person in a story, the individual be identified by his title, if applicable, and his legal name, or the name by which he is commonly referred if that is different from his legal name. So if Pittsburgh’s mayor talks about public safety preparations, he’ll be referred to as Mayor Bill Peduto, even though his legal first name is William. The second time he is mentioned, he will be referred to as Mr. Peduto.
If current police officers testify, they will be first identified by rank and name, and then the second time by rank and last name. Former police officer Michael Rosfeld, because he is not currently serving, is referred to as Mr. Rosfeld.
The newspaper’s style calls for referring to minors — or those who died as minors — by their full names the first time, and then by their first names the second time and beyond. That’s why Antwon Rose II is referred to, starting with the second time he is mentioned in any story, as Antwon.
People who have been sentenced for felonies do not get courtesy titles under the newspaper’s style rules. The second time that felons appear in a story, they are identified by last name only. Zaijuan Hester, who was 17 at the time of the incident but is an adult now, had two juvenile felonies. That’s why he is called Hester on subsequent mentions.
If a medical doctor testifies, he or she will be referred to, on subsequent appearances in an article, as, say, “Dr. Smith.” On the other hand, if someone possessing a non-medical doctorate testifies, the individual’s degree will likely be mentioned, but he will be “Mr. Smith” the second time he is referenced.
And judges? They are always identified as such, so Common Pleas Judge Alexander P. Bicket will be called Judge Bicket upon subsequent reference.