- The Conscious Language Newsletter by Karen Yin
- Posts
- June 2019 Newsletter
June 2019 Newsletter
CSG in the News
Conscious Style Guide: The Case for Capitalizing Black and White in Context of Racial Identity | Conscious Company Media
How Conscious Style Guide helped Conscious Company Media in its journey toward the decision to capitalize Black and White.
An interview with editor and inclusive-content advocate Leigh Angel, who says, “One of the best resources I know for editors, writers, and journalists — or for anyone, really — is the Conscious Style Guide.”
Self-Help | DocEditor
Thanks to Dr. Cathy Tingle for the shout-out to Conscious Style Guide for our piece on themself, covered by writer and editor Sarah Grey.
From the World of Conscious Language
Note: The authors’ viewpoints are not necessarily shared by Conscious Style Guide.
Everyone Knows Headlines Are Broken. Here’s How News Organizations Can Start Fixing Them. | Media Matters for America
“One rule must hold true: Reporters should write tweets and headlines as though they’re the only part of a story that people will see. Often, they are.”
“Keeping their names out of the headlines may be a key step toward not inspiring others.”
What International Coverage of Tiananmen Got Wrong | Columbia Journalism Review
“The reporters did not create a safe space for people to speak…This kind of journalistic practice is actually not about Tiananmen, but a conscious—and stylistic—choice that is commonly adopted to frame ignorance and silence.” —Tony Lin, video journalist, Quartz
After 10,000 “False or Misleading Claims,” Are We Any Better at Calling Out Trump’s Lies? | Columbia Journalism Review
“Thousands of examples later, the anxiety around the word ‘lie’ has mostly dissipated…However, major news organizations still resort to euphemisms.”
“‘Trolls will be trolls’ is to internet culture what ‘boys will be boys’ is to rape culture.”
From the Newsroom: The Daily’s Decision to Use the Word “Racist” | The Daily Northwestern
“We at The Daily have decided to use ‘racist’ to describe subjects that fall under the dictionary definition: prejudice, discrimination or antagonism directed against someone based on their race, especially when distinguishing it as inferior or superior to another.”
“Editors and reporters are encouraged to use the term ‘six-week abortion ban’ over ‘fetal heartbeat bill’, unless they are quoting someone.”
“No matter what your personal views on whether abortion should be legal, accept that there is definitive science that uses a common and accurate language.”
How You Can Help
If CSG has helped you in any way, please consider making a donation to help us keep our resources free and accessible. We also appreciate shout-outs in your newsletter, blog, and social media!
Yes, You Can Call Me Disabled | Quartz
“Person-first language potentially diminishes a person’s disability identity by adding it on last. Activists from the disabled community have been pushing for identity-first language, some with a social media campaign called #SayTheWord.”
Usage of the Word “Disability” Essential to Support Disability Culture | Hindustan Times
“There have been many viral hashtags for disability issues, such as #cripthevote, #iamapreexistingcondition and #thisiswhatdisabilitylookslike, that have helped not only with personal identity but with highlighting the culture and recognising the history of oppression.” —Carrie Pilarski, researcher
What’s in a Name? The Battle Over Alternative Meat, Milk and Rice Labeling Rages On. | The Washington Post
“The people who make and advocate for plant-based meats and milks, and veggie-based rices, counter that consumers aren’t buying these products because they’re confused…they know the products are alternatives, and these consumers want them.”
“We unfairly judge these cuisines and cultures based on false perceptions when we use language like authenticity.”
“We’ve learned that it’s not as simple as just changing something on a single page. It’s really about transforming how to do student-centered financial literacy communication.” —Laura Keane, chief policy officer, uAspire
Stop Trying to Standardize Your Students’ Language | Education Week
“The bilingualism of students from monolingual backgrounds is celebrated, while the bilingualism of other students is treated as a problem to be ‘fixed.’”
50 Years of Children Drawing Scientists | Edutopia
“Referring to boys as ‘future scientists’ while calling girls ‘future female scientists’ can reduce girls’ sense that science is an appropriate profession for them.”
Being Understood Outside Your Discipline | University Affairs
“By using precise, concrete terms that most people will define in similar ways, you’re helping your reader to connect your key term to words and concepts they already understand.”
From the Archives
Euphemism Is Dead | Conscious Style Guide
Why inclusive language in the age of Trump means speaking the ugly truth.
In Case You Missed It
Read about reclaimed and shifting language for some Latinx communities, thoughts on stock photos and first-person narration in journalism, and how to receive critical feedback in social-movement spaces and talk trash without crossing a line in online gaming spaces.
More Tips on Instagram
Follow @consciousstyleguide for examples of how context can support sensitive content, with a focus on YA books and kidlit.
Need Help?
The Editors of Color Database, a project of Conscious Style Guide, is a free service that connects employers and recruiters with editors, proofreaders, and sensitivity readers of color in the U.S. and Canada. Also home to the Database of Diverse Databases, now with sixty resources!
The Conscious Style Guide newsletter rounds up the best news and blog posts from the world of kind, compassionate, mindful, empowering, respectful, and inclusive language. Note: Spotlighting an opinion is not intended as an endorsement. Please send news tips to [email protected].
The post June 2019 Newsletter appeared first on Conscious Style Guide.