Jargon Watch
8th-Floor Decision
Refers to the 8th floor at the FCC, where the commissioners' offices and meeting rooms are located. Decisions made on the 8th floor have a profound effect on new communication services.
In the Demo
MTV corporate slang for being a member of a targeted demographic group.
Small Indulgence Syndrome
Spending money on small luxuries and frivolous purchases when hard economic times prevent purchasing big-ticket items such as cars, houses, and expensive vacations. Coined by cultural trend watcher Faith Popcorn.
SloGo
Short for Slogan + Logo. Corporate slogans used repeatedly, in a manner similar to a logo. Nike's "Just Do It" and AT&T's "You Will" are prime examples.
Cold Peace
A relationship between two countries in which there is no war, no trade, no travel, and no diplomatic relations.
Media Contamination
Used by LA Superior Court Judge Lance Ito in the possible tainting of the O.J. Simpson jury by exposure to media coverage.
J-list
Shorthand/lazy Netspeak for "journalist."
404
Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error message "404, URL Not Found," meaning that the document you've tried to access can't be located. "Don't bother asking him ... he's 404, man."
A tip o' the fez to: Hugh Brackett, Justin Hall, Will Kreth, arturner, Robert Lauriston, Brock Meeks.
