In the aftermath of the Alabama and Georgia laws banning abortions, NPR has taken it upon themselves to make sure that their listening audience knows that they aren’t pro-life in any way.
What they’ve done is re-issued a style guide for hosts and other talkers to use when discussing the topic of abortion that essentially scrubs the language of any pro-life bias whatsoever. While the style-guide isn’t new, they recently reposted it so that their newer hosts and talkers don’t sound pro-life.
Here are some lowlights from the guide, which can be found here:
“Babies are not babies until they are born”
The term “unborn” implies that there is a baby inside a pregnant woman, not a fetus. Babies are not babies until they are born. They’re fetuses. Incorrectly calling a fetus a “baby” or “the unborn” is part of the strategy used by antiabortion groups to shift language/legality/public opinion.
“Opponents call it partial-birth abortion”
Use the term intact dilation and extraction to describe the procedure, or a procedure known medically as intact dilation and extraction; opponents call it partial-birth abortion. On the latter, it is necessary to point out that the term partial-birth is used by those opposed to the procedure; simply using the phrase so-called partial birth abortion is not sufficient without explaining who’s calling it that.
“Late term” is not appropriate when referring to a late term abortion
…LATE TERM ABORTION. Though we initially believed this term carried less ideological baggage when compared with partial-birth, it still conveys the sense that the fetus is viable when the abortion is performed. It gives the impression that the abortion takes place in the 8th or 9th month. In fact, the procedure called intact dilation and extraction is performed most often in the 5th or 6th month — the second trimester — and the second trimester is not considered “late” pregnancy. Thus “late term” is not appropriate. As an alternative, call it a certain procedure performed after the first trimester of pregnancy and, subsequently, the procedure….
Don’t refer to them as “Abortion clinics”
NPR doesn’t use the term “abortion clinics.” We say instead, “medical or health clinics that perform abortions.” The point is to not to use abortion before the word clinic. The clinics perform other procedures and not just abortions.
Do not use the term “pro-life”
On the air, we should use “abortion rights supporter(s)/advocate(s)” and “abortion rights opponent(s)” or derivations thereof (for example: “advocates of abortion rights”). It is acceptable to use the phrase “anti-abortion rights,” but do not use the term “pro-abortion rights”. … Do not use “pro-life” and “pro-choice” in copy except when used in the name of a group. Of course, when the terms are used in an actuality they should remain.
All of this is pretty disgusting to me, especially when they refuse to refer to the child in the womb as an unborn child. It’s an intentional move to hide the truth from their listeners and to not upset their more liberal radio fans.