On March 31, The Boston Globe posted a video to its social media accounts about the robbery of an $18 million mansion in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods on the North Shore region of Massachusetts. The reporter, Emily Sweeney, recounted the baffling, near-cinematic theft: A home caretaker was tied up. Valuables were stolen. Robbers escaped in a Porsche. But commenters focused on one thing: Ms. Sweeney’s Boston accent.
“The only thing crazier than this home invasion is her wicked ‘hahd’ accent,” one comment read. “This reporter could narrate ‘The Departed,’” read another. “I’m happy the CayreTakah is safe.”
In an interview, Ms. Sweeney said, “I think I pronounce ‘caretaker’ fine, but apparently the rest of the world sees it differently.”
The video went viral, with 3.2 million views and nearly 150,000 likes across TikTok and Instagram. Commenters were charmed by Ms. Sweeney’s dialect, and they wanted more: “I need this reporter telling every single story,” one wrote. Another offered to buy a subscription to The Globe if she continued narrating the news.
The Globe listened: Ms. Sweeney has been featured in several more social media videos, relaying the latest headlines from behind a desk or while on roller blades, and reporting on inflation from a Market (pronounced “mah-ket”) Basket, a local grocery chain.
Ms. Sweeney’s look, with short blonde hair and a rotating cast of track jackets, has also set her apart. While her hair has changed over time — she described having a punk phase during which she styled it in a mohawk — her jackets have long been an integral part of her style. “I have a ton more,” she said. “I can last for a while wearing a different one every video. I’ve been joking at work if they’re going to give me a clothing allowance.”
Ms. Sweeney, 50, who has worked for The Globe since 2001, writes “Blotter Tales,” a weekly column, and “Cold Case Files,” a series about unsolved crimes. She has also written three books: “Boston Organized Crime” and “Gangland Boston,” both about the city’s illegal activity, and “Dropkick Murphy: A Legendary Life,” about John Murphy, the professional wrestler known as Dropkick (who inspired the name of the band).
In an interview, edited and condensed for length and clarity, Ms. Sweeney talked about her heightened profile, growing up in Boston and what it’s like to be a journalist when social media has become inextricable from the job.
What is it like to go viral for your Boston accent?
It was really unexpected. The great thing is that I’ve always wanted to do more stuff on camera, even in college. I went to Northeastern, and I would have preferred doing broadcast journalism, but you don’t really see anybody on TV that looks like me. I didn’t really think there were many opportunities, so I just put my energy into doing good journalism for The Globe.
I’ve read that the Boston accent is disappearing.
It’s definitely fading. These days, everybody has phones, and we’re just exposed to so many other things, and I think original accents in general are probably fading. But I’ve been utterly shocked at how positive so many comments have been. And it’s been nice to hear a lot of people like, “It reminds me of home.” Apparently my voice is soothing.
Why do you think the reaction has been so positive?
Probably several reasons. I think news is hard to take these days, there’s a lot of really hard news to hear all the time. And a lot of it is delivered in the same way.
I think people want to hear a real person’s authentic voice. I’m still trying to figure it out, honestly, because it’s been, like, just over a week. But The Globe has been really supportive.
Growing up in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, did you hear the accent a lot?
Everybody talked like that when I was growing up. And certain parts of Boston have different accents, too, when you really drill down.
What tips do you have for someone trying to do the Boston accent? For me, it has a lot to do with the letter R.
So, “at large” — it’s in the middle of the word, so it just disappears. “Lahge.” A-H. But if it’s at the end of a word, like flowers, it’s I-Z (pronounced “flowiz”). It’s not “flowahs.”
Do people recognize you on the street?
Definitely. “The person from the news” is what I get.
I’m just really happy that it’s bringing attention to The Boston Globe and to the news in general. Especially in these times where there’s a lot of mistrust in legacy media, so it’s good to see.
I believe I’m legally obligated to ask what your Dunkin’ Donuts order is.
I usually get a gigantic black coffee. In the summertime, I get a black iced coffee.
Kasia Pilat, a social media editor for NYT Cooking and the Food section, reports on a range of topics and has published recipes.
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