As if you needed more proof that the press has turned into a propaganda mill for the hard left, the Associated Press issued even more bizarre guidelines to journalists covering the news. Now, the agency is encouraging reporters to pretend that biological sex isn’t a thing.
The Associated Press (AP), a once-respected American news agency, has issued new guidelines for its journalists on reporting issues related to gender identity. The new guidelines instruct reporters to avoid acknowledging that people are born with a biological sex.
The AP’s new guidance asserts that gender identity “refers to an individual’s internal sense of their own gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth.” The guidelines also state that journalists should “avoid references to sex assigned at birth” and use the term “assigned male” or “assigned female” instead of “biological male” or “biological female.”
The AP’s new guidance has sparked controversy, with some critics arguing that the agency’s guidelines contradict science and are intended to push a particular agenda. However, the AP has defended the guidelines, stating that they are designed to ensure that journalists report on issues related to gender identity in a sensitive and inclusive manner.
In response to the criticism, the AP issued a statement clarifying its position. “Our new guidance is not intended to deny the reality of biological sex,” the statement read. “Rather, it is designed to ensure that our reporting on gender identity is accurate, respectful, and inclusive of all individuals, regardless of their gender identity.”
The AP’s new guidelines have been met with mixed reactions. Some advocates for the transgender community have praised the agency’s efforts to promote inclusivity and sensitivity in reporting on gender identity. Others, however, have criticized the guidelines as being overly politically correct and potentially misleading to the public.
As the debate over gender identity and the appropriate language to use in reporting on the topic continues, it remains to be seen whether other news agencies will adopt similar guidelines. For now, however, the AP’s new guidance could have a significant impact on how journalists report on issues related to gender identity.
This is not the first time the AP has made questionable alterations to its style guide. In January, it suggested that writers should not use the word “the” in front of groups of people because it is “dehumanizing.” With a straight face, they wrote:
We recommend avoiding general and often dehumanizing “the” labels such as “the poor,” “the mentally ill,” “the French,” “the disabled,” “the college-educated.” Instead, use wording such as “people with mental illnesses.” And use these descriptions only when clearly relevant.
In November 2022, the AP issued other guidelines designed to give reports a pro-abortion slant by the terminology used by reporters to describe aspects of the abortion debate. In this change, the AP instructed journalists not to refer to organizations that provide alternatives to abortion to mothers as “crisis pregnancy centers.” Instead, it says: “If using the term anti-abortion center, explain later that these often are known as ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ (with quotation marks) and that their aim is to dissuade people from getting an abortion.”
This is a naked attempt to cast crisis pregnancy centers in a negative light. The reason why is obvious. These organizations have been instrumental in persuading mothers not to terminate their pregnancies, which is something the pro-abortion left just cannot abide.
It seems like every year, the media continues removing its mask and making its bias more apparent. Perhaps they know that a large chunk of the American public will not catch on to the game they are playing. Still, there are plenty who do see what they are doing. There is a reason why trust in the media has plummeted, right?
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