Organized labor 'thrilled' with Obama's pick for labor secretary

[Matariki]

Why do "news" organizations use quotes around certain words? Is it intended to look like sarcasm, even though the article itself is a sincere reflection of the headline? In fact, I can't see *any* "reason" for quotes around the word "thrilled". Can you?


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Labor unions Thursday praised President-elect Barack Obama's selection to head the Labor Department, Rep. Hilda Solis.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/18/solis.labor/

[MercutioATC]

1. Maybe the direct quote from organized labor was that they were "thrilled"?

...quotation marks are occasionally used for their actual purpose...

[dsc]

2. because the unions didn't use the exact word thrilled

the reporter is putting his or her word to summarize what the union leaders said.

[MercutioATC]

3. Actually, putting it in quotes suggests that "thrilled" WAS the exact word.

...just sayin'...

[dsc]

5. yeah I know

but that is what they do.

[patrice]

4. If it's not an exact quote, then the quotes indicate special usage, just the way that you

indicated that organizations that consider themselves "news" organizations might actually be something other than news organizations. Labor had somekind of reaction to the labor secretary pick that, though it might be CHARACTERIZED as "thrilled", is actually something other than thrilled.