Tad Talk
Journalists often joke that the first lesson of journalism is to spell names correctly. It’s understood that they aren’t really joking. Getting names right is a fundamental lesson in accuracy. That sounds obvious but isn’t always. I remember once misspelling the name of former NBA star Micheal Ray Richardson in a headline and column. I’d never noticed his first name differed from the traditional Michael.
These days, I make it a regular habit to hand my reporter’s notebook and pen to people I interview so they can spell their name for me. The least I can do is publish their name correctly.
All of which is to say I am surprised some journalists do not provide the same courtesy to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a year after President Russell M. Nelson requested that people use its correct name rather than nicknames like Mormon or LDS.
Journalists who take pains to make sure an e comes before an a in a name should just as carefully report the preferred and correct name of an organization. Today, news organizations regularly ask for and use the pronoun or pronouns preferred by transgender people. When sports teams sell naming rights to their stadiums to a corporation, journalists comply with the name change. Reporters also comply with requests by ethnic groups. For example, The Associated Press Stylebook recently instructed reporters to use African American instead of the old, hyphenated form, African-American. |
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I acknowledge that writers do confront real, practical dilemmas when using the church’s full name. First, some readers in national outlets may only know the church by a nickname. That is easily handled; since the job of a journalist is to be accurate and improve understanding, one can simply use the church’s name and add a phrase like, “often known as Mormons.” Eventually, understanding will improve.
Second, headlines do not allow for an eight- or nine-word title in print or online. I did a quick search of Newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org to see how the church’s own public affairs division has responded.
In press releases issued by the church since June 1, Church Newsroom has not used the church’s full name in a headline. It isn’t necessary. When the site wants to refer to the church in a headline, it uses “Church” with an upper case c. Everyone knows to which church it is referring. The Deseret News is using a similar style in many headlines, hoping our readers also understand, but most news outlets cannot.
Third, journalism requires reporters get to the point quickly in a hard-news story. Some editors demand that reporters do so in an opening sentence of 30 words or less, preferably using a strong action verb.
Again, I checked Church Newsroom. One of the 35 news releases issued by the church since June 1 began with the church’s name followed by a verb. However, many of them began with even longer phrases, such as “The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced … .” That is appropriate for a press release.
For the past year, I have tried to craft opening sentences that begin with what was announced followed quickly by who announced it as a way to get right to the point and include the church’s full name. That often requires additional thought because it creates a trap that leads to passive voice. It’s worth it, though, because I want to follow the first lesson of journalism. |
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What I’m Reading ... One of our goals at the Deseret News is to make sure that some of what we publish are what we call faith-lived stories. We believe these stories are largely untold and that faith angles within stories are often ignored, overlooked or purposefully left out.
Journalism is supposed to be about balance, and we hope we can help recover some of that balance. An article published by LDS Living was written by my smart, thoughtful and delightful former Deseret News colleague, Morgan Jones, who has provided a story of love lived, faith found and faith lived from North Korea to Utah.
The first time I met Ignacio Garcia, he was the subject of a story I was writing. Over the years, he became a smart source I relied on at times to provide insight to our readers on important issues. Eventually, he became a friend I played against in stake basketball games, and then we served in a stake Sunday School presidency together. Now he has a new role.
Many Latter-day Saints have been uncomfortable with the profanity and the portrayal of missionaries and the church in the Broadway play “The Book of Mormon” musical. Others have told me they enjoyed it or liked the music. I have never seen it. This piece is a few months old, but I only came across it recently. A retired attorney in Maryland asks if the white supremacy inherent in the musical should cause theatergoers to stop going to see it.
Meanwhile, the musical is being staged this week and next in Salt Lake City. My friend and colleague Aaron Shill has provided an update on the play’s history, fans and criticism. |
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