Philip Lees Sep 7, 2009:

I like "perfunctory", Dylan. I think that's the closest yet.

Dylan Edwards Sep 7, 2009:

I think Spiros' phrase "go through the motions" is helpful. "Formulaic" came to mind.

A bit of brainstorming:
Perfunctory, routine, token, churned out, cranked out, written on autopilot.
I'm not at all sure I'm catching every shade of meaning in this word.

Philip Lees Sep 6, 2009:

I'm finding this one very frustrating because at the back of my mind I'm sure there's a word in English to express this concept perfectly. Spiros' and George's suggestions are correct in terms of what the result of this process is, but do not express the process itself, which, as I understand it, is that the journalists simple take the material they're given and pump it back out again, without adding anything in the way of extra insight or analysis.

So what is the word for that? I came up with "expedient", which covers a part of the meaning, but still doesn't satisfy me.

Another alternative I've just thought of is "regurgitated", which gets closer, but is still not quite right. Another word that works is "formulaic", but that doesn't mesh with the etymolgy, so doesn't satisfy me either.

I'm sure the combined genius of the contributors to this forum can find the answer. What do you say, people?