Fierce Fighting - Tabloid Headlines or Lack of Vocabulary

Is it me? Or, do we see the same phrase and headline just about everytime our boys and girls are in a fight? "Fierce Fighting" seems to be the tagline on every major network and media outlet. It's almost to the point where it is becoming a media induced phrase in our daily sililoquays. A cliche.

As soon as I clicked open my browser and the home page opened up to MSN, this was the headline I saw:

Fierce Fighting in Fallujah

I've seen this kind of headline countless times and not just about Iraq:

Fierce Fighting Continues (Sri Lanka 05/30/98)

Fierce Fighting in Afghanistan (08/29/03)

Fierce Fighting in Mogadishur (09/22/00)

Fierce Fighting in Baghdad (08/04/03)

Fierce Fighting Erupts in Iraq(09/29/04)

US Forces advance toward Najaf shrine in fierce fighting with Shiite militants(08/23/04)

Check out this reference sight for "Fierce Fighting"

OR, check this sight for references to "Fierce Fighting"

Ok. Have I made my point? This is the sign of deteriating journalism. I mean, is there one guy (or woman) coming up with this same title, over and over again? Or, does it just seem too catchy to pass up? What happened to "pitched battle", "enemy contact", "violent conflict"?

Those are just three that come to mind within the 5 mins it took to right this little message. Is this tabloid journalism? Aliens land in Alabama?

I don't know. Today, I report, you decide.