Clik here to view.
Reminder: Senior Editors Must Sign Off On Major Scoops And Significant Stories
Before we post or broadcast reports that break major news or raise ethical or legal questions about someone's actions, one or more of these senior editors must have a chance to review the story and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Poynter's Annual Corrections Roundup Is Out
We will continue to work on reducing mistakes (and therefore the number of corrections we post) in 2019. Meanwhile, here is Poynter's annual corrections roundup. We didn't make the list this time."The...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Reminder: Social Media Are Not Where We Criticize Colleagues' Work
It's the holiday season. Let's resolve to treat each other kindly in 2019.In recent days some staffers have taken to social media to criticize the work done by others at NPR. Think about how it could...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Just Say Snow
With white stuff piling up across much of the heartland, it's time again to put the big chill on the winter-wonderland clichés we'll be tempted to toss about.We can do this.Just hunker down. Brave the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Let's Stay United About How To Say Divisive
The word "divisive" has been coming up often lately, and we seem to be dih-VYD-id about how to say it. Fortunately, someone in years past dih-VYZED a solution for us. From our pronouncers...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Did That Happen Last Year? Don't Assume So
Remember checks? Those things you used to write when you were paying bills? The start of a new year was always the time when you'd date one with the wrong year. Then you'd have to rip it up and start...
View ArticleClik here to view.
MUST-READ: When Offensive Language Is Involved, These Steps Are Not Optional
As with previous notes about offensive language, what follows focuses on radio reports. But it's worth noting that we also do not put f-bombs, s-bombs, slurs and other offensive language on digital...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Reminder: We Don't 'Participate' In Marches & Rallies
With high-profile marches happening today and this weekend, here are links to our thinking about why we don't get involved and what is and isn't OK:- We can go see what's happening, but can't...
View ArticleClik here to view.
On Viral Videos: We Should Weigh In When We Have Something To Add
There are surely many lessons to be relearned from the media's coverage of the video showing Kentucky high school students and a Native American singer/drummer at the Lincoln Memorial. This one is very...
View ArticleClik here to view.
On The Order Of Succession In Virginia
If you're going to refer to who's next in line should the governor of Virginia resign, and who would be next if there's no lieutenant governor, and who would be next if there's no attorney general,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
As Somber Anniversaries Approach, A Reminder About Superlatives
Gerry Holmes' note this week about Parkland anniversary coverage included an important reminder that we want to reinforce.Superlatives such as "first," "worst" and "deadliest" should be avoided or only...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Reminder About When To Use (And Not Use) The Word 'Parishioner'
If we report further about the investigation into alleged sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches, do not refer to those who attend the churches as "parishioners."As The Associated Press says about...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Save Yourself From A Correction: Don't Put A 'U' In Colombia
We've gotten it wrong in the past, so with Venezuela and Colombia in the news here's a reminder.Colombia – the country, that is – is not spelled with a "u." Save the "u" for when you're writing about...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Reminder: It Is The 'Democratic Party,' Not 'Democrat Party'
For at least 80 years, some Republicans have referred to their major opponents as members of the "Democrat Party," not by its name — the "Democratic Party." It's a jab suggesting that the party is not...
View ArticleClik here to view.
No Internal Edits From Cohen Hearing; No Clips Of Offensive Language Without...
In the statement he's expected to deliver this morning, Michael Cohen twice uses the word "shithole." It is possible that word, and others that are offensive, will also come up during the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
When Spock Was Disarmed, Was He Unfazed Or Unphased? Or Both?
We wrote this week that a radar technician in Alaska is "unphased by the solitude and pace of work" at the sites he visits.A reader reminds us that the correct word is "unfazed." As for Spock, one...
View ArticleClik here to view.
It's Time To Remind Everyone: There's No Second 'S' In 'Daylight Saving'
Make sure your clocks spring forward an hour this weekend, and make sure you say or write that most of the U.S. is switching to "daylight saving time," not "daylight savingS."If you do add that second...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: On Covering Another Media Outlet's Scoop
Coming off the recent Buzzfeed report about what President Trump supposedly told Michael Cohen to do, we're underscoring how we handle such stories and who directs our coverage. When another media...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: Don't Use Candidates' First Names Or Nicknames In Later References
With former Rep. Beto O'Rourke entering the presidential race this is a good time to remind everyone about our policy on subsequent references to people in our news reports.He, for example, is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: On Names, The 'Manifesto' And Other New Zealand Mass Shooting Details
Thank you, everyone, for your work on covering the mass shooting in New Zealand.As we continue to cover the news:-NAMES I. When it's known for sure, the name of the shooter does NOT have to be...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Let's Move Away From Calling It A 'Manifesto'
Our dictionary defines the word "manifesto" as "a public declaration of motives and intentions, as by a political party or by an avant-garde movement." The statement reportedly made by the suspect in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance For All Stories: 'Under Fire,' & Other Such Clichés Are Banned
The following was first posted on Oct. 30, 2018:As we've said before, we should not use gun- or violence-related clichés in our reports — no matter the subject and especially not when another mass...
View ArticleClik here to view.
It's That Time Again: Don't Be Fooled Today By Real Fake News
Be warned. It's April Fools' Day. We have to be on guard against those who would like us to believe their fake news. View things even more skeptically than usual.Also, if you think you have a funny...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Names Remain Our Bane, Read The Training Team's Tips To Get Them Right
There's excitement at the Standards & Practices desk this afternoon. "You've Got A Friend" is looping in my head, thanks to this post from Holly Morris on the training team:5 Techniques To Spell...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance On The Words 'Apprehended' And 'Arrested' When Covering Border...
There's an important footnote with U.S. Customs and Border Protection's data. It states that:"Apprehensions refers to the physical control or temporary detainment of a person who is not lawfully in the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: It Is Not 'Mueller Time'
As Thursday's release of a redacted version of the special counsel's report draws near and as we report about it afterward, there's a phrase we do not need to say, write or put in headlines:"It's...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: Social Media Rules Of The Road For 'Mueller Report' News
Like an Election Day, this is another time to remind everyone about the social media rules of the road when there's a big story about to break.Borrowing from our post from last November, here is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: On The President's Use Of The F-word
We are not going to repeat on the air this quote attributed to President Trump in the Mueller report:"I'm fucked." When talking about it, we can clean up the quote by turning it into "I'm F-ed." But we...
View ArticleClik here to view.
On References In The Mueller Report To Evidence Of Lying
There is evidence in the Mueller report that the president asked some aides to lie about his actions. When reporting about this, frame it as "evidence," not proof, that the aides were "asked to lie."...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: Today's Foul Language
In a tweet this morning, the president uses the word "bullshit" to characterize some of the "statements made in the 'Report' about me." As with yesterday's guidance about an F-bomb, our position is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Reminder: All Requests To Use NPR Material Must Go Through 'Permissions'
Media outlets, schools, interest groups, movie studios and others often approach NPR journalists to ask about rebroadcasting, reprinting or otherwise reusing our material.All such requests must be...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: On References To Attitudes About Vaccines
As we report on measles outbreaks and outbreaks related to other vaccine-preventable diseases, it's important to stick to the science — and to use neutral language in describing peoples' positions.In...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance Reminder: On Abortion Procedures, Terminology & Rights
As we've covered the new abortion law in Georgia and legislation in Alabama, we've followed long-standing guidance very well. Thank you to all involved.For those new to the subject, that guidance about...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: On Naming Both Defendants In The STEM School Shooting
As Newscast and Colorado Public Radio have reported, the 16-year-old suspect in the STEM school shooting is being charged as an adult – as is the 18-year-old suspect. We can use the names, though as we...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: About Historical References To Citizenship Questions On The Census
If you need to refer to the proposed citizenship question for the 2020 census, contact Hansi Lo Wang or Luis Clemens before doing so. One of them should review what you plan to say or write because the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance & Reminder: No Bumper Stickers, No Signs, No Advocating
With the 2020 campaign underway, here are some reminders from the Ethics Handbook about publicly expressing political opinions.The section on impartiality has the guidance and it applies to NPR...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Reminder: A Child Is Not 'Illegitimate'
We agree with The Associated Press on this:"Do not refer to the child of unmarried parents as illegitimate. If it is pertinent to the story at all, use an expression such as whose parents were not...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance Reminder For The 4th: Beware Of Videos And Other Things That Go Viral
It's highly likely there will be things happening on and around the National Mall tomorrow that lead to videos, tweets, photos and other social media reports that go viral. Here are some reminders from...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance Reminder: The Agency Is 'Customs And Border Protection'
On a few occasions recently we've said or written "Customs and Border Patrol." That's a mistake.Please remember: the agency's name ends with "Protection," not "Patrol."It's Customs and Border...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: When Victims Are Minors, They Are Not 'Women' And 'Men'
The R. Kelly and Jeffrey Epstein cases include accusations that they sexually assaulted and exploited minors – girls, in these cases. When accusers or alleged victims are under 18, do not refer to them...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: Embargoed Reports Must Be Flagged In DACS Lines
If a report we're doing is embargoed, the DACS line must read as follows, asterisks and all: ***EMBARGOED***NPR's [insert name of correspondent or NPR desk] has an exclusive.This story is embargoed...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: More About The Word 'Manifesto'
The man accused of the mass shooting in El Paso is reported to have written what he referred to as a "meh manifesto." We have been referring to it as a "manifesto." This note is just a reminder that as...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance Reminder: Use Names Of Mass Shooting Suspects Sparingly
As we've had to say too often, thank you for getting so many things right as we've covered the latest mass shootings. Here's one thing to continue keeping in mind: "The name [of the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: The Capital Of Ukraine Is Spelled 'Kyiv'
We are changing the way we spell the capital of Ukraine to Kyiv, from Kiev. This brings us in line with The Associated Press, with the way Ukrainians would spell it in English and with the U.S. Board...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: On The Word 'Transcript'
Because the document released by the White House is not a word-for-word record of the conversation President Trump had with the president of Ukraine, please do not simply refer to it as a "transcript."...
View ArticleClik here to view.
This Is No Mistake: There's Good News About Corrections
When we met with everyone last year to talk about how to reduce the number of mistakes we were making, we set a goal to cut in half the number of corrections we were posting each month. The average...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: Keep Adding 'According To' Or Other Attribution To al-Baghdadi...
Our coverage since President Trump announced that ISIS leaded Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead has been strong, compelling, fast and informative. Many thanks.We've done well so far to attribute what is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance: On Covering The 'Whistleblower' If A Name Is Revealed
Should another media outlet, a member of Congress, the president or anyone else identify someone as being the whistleblower who raised concerns about the phone call with Ukraine's president, do not...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guidance Reminder: About DACA And 'Dreamers'
When reporting about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, it's important to be careful when citing some figures and terms. Here's a reminder:There are currently about 700,000 DACA...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Another Fact That Needs To Be Right: A Person's Pronouns
"Respect" is one of our core values. We aim to treat everyone we encounter "with decency and compassion." "Accuracy" is one of our core values. We work hard to make sure the facts we report "are both...
View Article
