Edward Schumacher-Matos. (Credit: NPR, screenshot)

NPR ombudsman Edward Schumacher-Matos criticized NPR for using “police speak” — terminology used and provided by the police — in reports on the Occupy Oakland protests.

Specifically, NPR program Morning Edition and NPR’s news programs reported that Iraq veteran and Occupy Oakland protester Scott Olsen was hit by a “non-lethal projectile.”  Schumacher-Matos wrote that “NPR’s use of the police term was understandable on deadline, when more details weren’t available. But stopping there is not good enough.”

He called for NPR to use “ordinary English” to explain to viewers and readers what happened.