This clip is from the Associated Press stylebook. It is used by newspapers across the country to provide guidelines in how stories should be written. By and large, many guidelines are neutral and simple are matters of style (i.e. capitalization, punctuation, etc). However, in this one entry, standing unique in comparison to the whole guide, the AP picks sides in the abortion debate and insists that the pro-abortion side be the one supported in news coverage.
If Planned Parenthood wants to use pro-choice and anti-abortion, that's their perogative. However, the Associated Press, as journalists, pretend to be objective in their reporting. In this case, they choose propaganda terms to portray those against abortion in the worst light and those who support it in the best light. Framing, apparently, is not just for politicians anymore.
The particularly interesting part of this guideline is that it is objectively false. The words pro-life and anti-abortion are simply not interchangeable. The largest pro-life group in the United States is the Roman Catholic Church with roughly 60 million members. Evangelical Christians, for as much press as they get, are a pittance in comparison to this number. Further, evangelicals and other Christian churches very quickly get highly variable on the issue of abortion, or for that matter, any "difficult" theological concept.
The US Catholic Church terms pro-life as including not only abortion, but contraception, capital punishment, euthanasia, stem cell research, cloning, and reproductive technologies. To pigeonhole the Catholic Church's pro-life stance as simply being against abortion is to disregard factual reporting and adopting lockstep propagandist talking points from Planned Parenthood. Lobbyists are free to do this, objective journalists should not be.
The media, at large, is just as guilty as the Associated Press on this point. They will not use the term pro-life if it can be avoided and in so doing, they give up objective reporting and become lobbyists. Here is a clear case were bias can be proven the next time someone suggests there is no bias in the press.
Article comments
1 - Che
Yeah whatever.
Seems to me the AP preferred terms are about as neutral as you can get on the issue. As you say yourself, the term pro-choice covers more than just abortion. But the AP regulations are referring specifically to the issue of abortion, so using the term pro-choice, which covers - as you yourself point out in your article - capital punishment, euthenasia, cloning, etc., would be inappropriate in an article that is focussed solely on the issue of abortion.
Pro-choice is the term generally preferred by those of use who are pro-choice. Pro-abortion is the term for us preferred by those who define themselves as pro-life, (but who are actually anti-abortion, because so many "pro-lifers" support capital punishment" so as defined by you and the catholic church, they aren't really pro-life). The term anti-abortion is used by "pro-lifers" as propoganda portraying the pro-choice faction as frothing-at-the-mouth would-be murderers who want everyone to have an abortion, when the term pro-choice is a bit more accurate. However, the term "abortion rights", as used by the AP, is probably a bit more neutral, and I will admit, a bit more accurate, since "choice" can refer to a whole spectrum of issues, just like "life" can refer to a whole spectrum of issues.
But the issue here is not a spectrum, its abortion. Seems to me the AP is about right on this one. And you are about wrong.
2 - RJ Elliott
I have no problem with the term "anti-abortion" because it accurately describes the beliefs of those who are, uh, against abortion.
But "pro-choice" is too vague a term to use. A fairer term would be "pro-legal abortion" or "legalized abortion-supporters" or something along those lines...
3 - Che
Pro life is also too vague a term. And anyway, who ISN'T pro-life? We all like life. I like it, you like it, we're living it, we're loving it. But people who term themselves "pro-life" are implying that those of us who disagree with them are "anti-life".... OOOOOOO... us life-haters.
Pro-choice IS a vague term, just as pro-life is, which is why, I assume, the AP uses NEITHER of those terms with regard to the abortion issue.
JB was arguing that the AP is biased, I think their terminology is very neutral on the issue, focussed, and fair.
4 - JustOneMan
Id prefer they use "baby killers" it is much more accurate....
5 - Arch Conservative
Gee using the name Che to post really makes me want to take you seriously.
Don't you have some patchoulie incense to burn and some tye dyed t-shirts to wash?
6 - Baronius
Che points out that "pro-choice" is the term preferred by that side for itself. The term that the opposing side uses for itself is "pro-life". Both terms are in widespread use. If a reporter seeks clarity and objectivity, those would be the terms to use.
7 - RJ Elliott
"Pro-choice IS a vague term [...] which is why, I assume, the AP [doesn't use that term] with regard to the abortion issue."
The AP doesn't describe legalized abortion-supporters as "pro-choice"??? What do they call them then?
8 - Michael J. West
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
The words pro-life and anti-abortion are simply not interchangeable
Perhaps that's why the AP style guide tells you not to use them interchangeably?
Honestly, I really don't understand the problem here. The AP guide says to use "anti-abortion" and NOT "pro-life," and it seems to me that it does so for precisely the reason that you say it shouldn't. Because "pro-life" is a far broader term than merely "anti-abortion."
Where is the falsehood? What's the issue?
9 - Jean Standish
Recently, the Associated Press has become biased in its politically reporting. A congressional investigation recently uncovered an e-mail Ron Fournier, the new AP Washington Bureau Chief, sent to Karl Rove in 2004, telling him to "Keep up the fight." Plus, it was recently revealed that Fournier talked to top McCain campaign operatives in 2007 about being a senior McCain political adviser!
The following are some recent AP headlines:
"Analysis: Biden pick shows lack of confidence," Associated Press, August 23, 2008
"Sen. Hillary Clinton an Artful Dodger," Associated Press, June 20, 2007
"Obama walks arrogance line," Associated Press, March 17, 2008
"AP Opinion: Clinton's politics of pity," Associated Press, February 27, 2008
A document listing the Associated Press Values and Principles stated:
"That means we abhor inaccuracies, carelessness, bias or distortions....It means we avoid behavior or activities that create a conflict of interest and compromise our ability to report the news fairly and accurately, uninfluenced by any person or action."
The AP has much to answer for, especially the AP Washington Bureau Chief, Ron Fournier. Apparently in this day and age of spin the AP's stated values mean little.