In the past year and a half working in local news in Seattle, I've seen at least a half-dozen stories that unironically used the phrase "pay it forward." Yes, exactly like in that mediocre movie you neglected to see.
This is not an isolated problem, it's a citywide epidemic. Take the story late last year of the alleged phenomenon at Starbucks in which each customer would pay for the next one's order after being pestered to do so by the barrista. Even though this was an obvious guerrilla marketing scheme -- it happened at Starbucks locations across the country, and only Starbucks locations, largely within the same week -- it got all sorts of earnest local coverage.
Think I'm exaggerating? Here's video from KOMO-4, complete with 'Pay It Forward' graphic. Here we have Seattle market leader KING-5. Rounding out the big three, an article from KIRO-7. Google it yourself and you'll probably be able to find a TV station or newspaper from your town, talking about a Starbucks in your region. I don't mind that none of these journalists realized they were being duped, but when everybody references the same crap movie, that's just lazy. (Yes, I'm aware that Haley Joel Osment did not invent the phrase. But let's admit the fact that he owns it.)
The madness doesn't end there. This summer the Associated Press referred to a cancer patient as having a "bucket list". See the pattern?
Here are some more movie titles that I challenge local news to work into the lexicon:
K-Pax
Sweet November
Mad Money
I Am Sam
Rocky V
Quantum of Solace?
they should bring back sean connery.