No animal should be called "it": AP journalism guidelines discussion with media experts Deb Merskin & Ana Bradley

No animal should be called "it": AP journalism guidelines discussion with media experts Deb Merskin & Ana Bradley

Author: cpfreeman April 13, 2021 Duration: 26:39
Media Professor Dr. Debra Merskin and Sentient Media Executive Director Ana Bradley discuss a campaign (started by In Defense of Animals and supported by Jane Goodall and others) to encourage the Associated Press to update its journalism style guidelines to use pronouns like "they," "she," "he," or "he or she" to describe an individual animal, rather than calling him or her "it" (a word only fitting for an inanimate object). In this 26-minute podcast, we discuss the impact of media messages about fellow animals on our treatment of them and ways we can encourage the media to do better. Debra Merskin and radio/podcast host Carrie Freeman are the co-founders of the www.animalsandmedia.org style guidelines for respectful animal representations in news, advertising, PR, TV, and film. It's a useful site to share with media professionals when you are giving them constructive feedback. To read news that takes fellow animals' into consideration as sentient beings, see Sentient Media -- an online news site that promotes respectful journalism stories about fellow animals and the role we play in each others' lives.  This In Tune to Nature episode originally aired on April 14th, 2021. In Tune to Nature is an eco-and-animal-friendly radio show that airs each Wednesday from 6:30-7pm on Radio Free Georgia at wrfg.org or in Atlanta on 89.3FM (hosted by Carrie Freeman, Sonia Swartz, or Melody Paris). Please consider making a financial contribution to support this indie, non-commercial radio station at wrfg.org. Photo credit: Amy Jones / We Animals. From the Photo Essay Next in Line  

Each week, In Tune to Nature Podcast offers a focused conversation dedicated to the practical and ethical questions of coexisting with the more-than-human world. Hosted by Carrie Freeman, a media studies professor who brings a thoughtful perspective to environmental and animal advocacy, this podcast is an extension of her long-running Atlanta radio show. Rather than overwhelming with data, each 25-minute episode sits down with one person-be it a scientist on the front lines of habitat conservation, an author rethinking our ethical obligations, or an activist organizing for change. The discussions are intimate and detailed, exploring tangible ways we can alter our daily lives and societal structures to become more responsible inhabitants of a shared planet. Listening feels like being part of a necessary and grounded dialogue, one that connects education, culture, and self-improvement to the urgent cause of protecting living beings. It’s for anyone seeking a deeper, actionable understanding of ecology that moves beyond headlines, fostering a sense of connection and agency. This weekly series provides a consistent space to reflect on our role within nature’s intricate web, all through the accessible, personal format of an interview-based podcast.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

In Tune to Nature Podcast
Podcast Episodes