BONUS: Who Writes the Rules of News?

“ When talking about immigration, you shouldn't use the word sweep because it implies that immigrants are something undesirable to be swept away. Notably, they don't say the same thing about homeless people.” -Alex Skopic

Protestor or Protester? Anti-Vaxxer or vaccine hesitant? Riot or Uprising? Every word in the news carries weight, and every choice behind those words shapes how we see the world.

Style guides dictate not just grammar and spelling, but power, perspective, and politics. The Associated Press Stylebook has long been considered the journalist’s bible, but who gets to write it? And whose voices get left out?

Alex Skopic of Current Affairs is an outspoken critic of the AP style guide. He pulls back the curtain on how language is used, who decides what’s "neutral," and why seemingly small word choices can have massive consequences.

Host: Sam Konnert

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Producer), Tony Wang (Executive Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Publisher)

Guests: Alex Skopic

Photo: m01229

Additional music by Audio Network

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