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AP switch -- state names will now be spelled out

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by MileHigh, Apr 23, 2014.

  1. MileHigh

    MileHigh Moderator Staff Member

    Is someone at AP drunk or just trying to justify their existence? Effective May 1, state names in will be spelled out in the body of stories.

    But you'll still need to know the abbreviations as it does not affect datelines.

    So get ready for fun copy such as: "He was traveling from Nashville, Tennessee, to Austin, Texas, en route to his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico."

    http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/249142/ap-tells-reporters-spell-out-names-of-states-in-stories/
     
  2. Liut

    Liut Well-Known Member

    I may be schooled for stating it, but I've pretty much thrown in the towel and stick to what I originally was taught when it comes to the basics.
     
  3. Michael_ Gee

    Michael_ Gee Well-Known Member

    Spelling out state names (and acronyms!) is standard editing policy at my electronic publishing and data management employer. It's all aimed at the idea of Web searching for stories, not reading them. Machines need things spelled out.
     
  4. MileHigh

    MileHigh Moderator Staff Member

    So why are there some exceptions in this memo? Don't spell it out in datelines, but do in copy. Unless the copy is doing a political affiliation of a person, then shorten it.
     
  5. MisterCreosote

    MisterCreosote Well-Known Member

    Anything to take focus off their increasingly shitty writing and shoddy reporting.
     
  6. Steak Snabler

    Steak Snabler Well-Known Member

    We now spell out state names in datelines, even when they are in our own state. But doing so in the body copy seems kind of pointless.
     
  7. MileHigh

    MileHigh Moderator Staff Member

    This should also mean no more "The AP" in copy. Always spell out "The Associated Press." Also, no more abbreviating of sports leagues, including the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and of course the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.
     
  8. lantaur

    lantaur Well-Known Member

    It is days like these that I really miss Craig Stanke (SF_Express).
     
  9. HanSenSE

    HanSenSE Well-Known Member

    Much like the name of the sport has to be part of a cutline, ie "San Francisco Giants Matt Cain throws during a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies ..." It's all about web hits.
     
  10. Double J

    Double J Active Member

    Same here.
     
  11. MisterCreosote

    MisterCreosote Well-Known Member

    According to the memo on Romenesko:

    That's because they're international stories. Is it too much to expect that the domestic readership might be a tad more familiar with the states?

    It reminds me of their style change to include the president's first name to be "consistent" with international style, as if any readers anywhere might confuse President Barack Obama with, well, no one in particular.
     
  12. trifectarich

    trifectarich Well-Known Member

    Just what I needed, another reason to use my stylebook as a jam to keep my office door open.
     
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