Here’s something I’ve never admitted to anyone but the editors I work with – I’ve really struggled with AP Style in my career.
OK, I didn’t have to admit that to my editors.
But something that’s helped me get a better handle on all the rules has actually been covering the evolution of AP Style, which I did for years when I was on Poynter’s editorial team. The style guide’s rulings over the years have been fascinating to watch and cover, from removing the distinctions between over/more than to allowing the percentage sign. (Also, remember when the Los Angeles Times published a Star Wars style guide?)
But the changes that have been the most significant are those that reflect usage and culture, including guidance on the use of the singular they and capital b Black.
The biggest thing I’ve learned from reporting those stories and others like them is that it’s people from the communities we cover pushing for journalists to use language that more accurately and often humanely reflects them. That was definitely the case when I covered immigration years ago in St. Louis.
So today, I’ve rounded up a collection of style books from journalism associations. Many of these groups are among the first to speak out publicly and offer guidance during horrific breaking news, like the Asian American Journalists Association did last year and like the Association of LGBTQ Journalists, NLGJA, did last week.
Here are several guides to help you better do your job:
NLGJA, the Association of LGBTQ Journalists’ stylebook:
“This stylebook seeks to be a guide on language and terminology to help journalists cover LGBTQ subjects and issues with sensitivity and fairness, without bias or judgment. Because language is always changing, this guide is not definitive or fully inclusive. When covering the LGBTQ community, we encourage you to use the language and terminology your subjects use. They are the best source for how they would like to be identified.”
Asian American Journalists Association’s Guidance and Resources:
AAJA’s stylebook is under revision, according to its site, but the regularly updated section on guidance and resources is a great place to follow for updates.
National Association of Black Journalists’ Style Guide:
NABJ’s Style Guide is also undergoing revisions, but does include updates on use of the term “officer-involved shooting.”
National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ Cultural Competence Handbook:
“The Hispanic population in the United States is diverse. With this consideration in mind, we conceived this manual as a living, breathing document that will change as the conversation with users and the experience of journalists require it. This guide will have a Spanish-language version to promote fair and accurate coverage of Latino issues and people within Spanish language publications.”
Native American Journalists Association Reporting Guides:
NAJA, which is working toward a name change, has nine different guides, from a tribal nations media guide to guidance around specific events and topics.
Street Sense Media’s Guide to Reporting on Homelessness:
This Washington, D.C., newsroom, which covers the homelessness crisis, built a guide to help journalists think through their coverage and language. “We built this guide to improve the broader public conversation around homelessness. We think that if journalists do a better job of reporting on homelessness then the public will have a much better, nuanced understanding of the issue.”
Conscious Style Guide:
This guide, from author Karen Yin, was made “to help writers and editors think critically about using language — including words, portrayals, framing, and representation — to empower instead of limit. In one place, you can access style guides covering terminology for various communities and find articles debating usage. We study words so that they can become tools instead of unwitting weapons.”
Know of a style guide I’ve missed? Please respond to this email and let me know!
Also, SciLine is offering a free, one-hour, remote science “crash course”—designed specifically for editors. Register here.
That’s it for me, thanks for reading and for working to do your best by the people you cover.
Kristen
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