Thursday, December 16, 2010

Another Day, Another Person Failing To Read The AP Stylebook

What is so hard about media peeps following the AP Stylebook guidelines for covering transpeople?.

transgender-Use the pronoun preferred by the individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth.  If that preference is not expressed, use the pronoun consistent with the way the individuals live publicly.

If we mere bloggers can follow those guidelines, surely you degreed professional journalists can do so.


Erin Mews seems to have a problem with it.   He misgendered Kye Allums in his story he wrote for the Student Free Press Association blog concerning the recent effort by the NCAA to come up with a policy for trans athletes..

Erin, just giving you a taste of how it feels to be misgendered.     Doesn't feel good does it?

Since you are a student at George Washington University, keep that in mind for the next time you cover Kye.   You might as well get used to respectfully reporting on him and using the proper pronouns since the basketball season isn't halfway over yet.

Now on to the other media person failing badly in AP Stylebook reading comprehension, and it's in my backyard.    

Christine Haas of KHOU-TV  is a serial offender in this regard.    In addition to putting Krystal Centeno's old name in this story, he misgenders her and mischaracterized her as an undocumented immigrant on top of it.

Seems the I-team and Christine Haas gets an 'F' in respect.. 

TransGriot Update:  Story was corrected in the Student Free Press Association blog by its editor Katherine Miller, but Erin Mews piece in the George Washington Patriot has NOT been and she's getting huffy about it in the comment section.





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