RE: https://hachyderm.io/@mekkaokereke/116184060048303307
Considering how often the NYT in particular does this, despite being frequently called out for it, I can only conclude that it is a very deliberate choice. It's not as if journalism schools don't teach about how the passive case is used to deflect and evade. So when a journalist who has graduated from a journalism school and possibly even won a Pulitzer uses the passive case this way, they do so intentionally to deflect and evade.
@RachelThornSub Worth pointing out here that journos do not typically write their own headlines or ledes. Nor are they necessarily responsible for any editorial changes to their copy. This is not to defend the journos at the NYT - many of whom have a lot to answer for! - only to point out that they may have been forced to work within certain constraints.
This is why Paul Krugman left. A man who famously didn't need an editor became increasingly frustrated with the changes to his submitted work.
Prof. Rachel Thorn 🍉🇺🇦🏳️⚧️🏳️
The Sleight Doctor 🃏🍉