Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Item

Giving Voice to the "Voiceless:" Incorporating Nonhuman Animal Perspectives as Journalistic Sources

Freeman, Carrie Packwood
Bekoff, Marc
Bexell, Sarah M.
Citations
Altmetric:
Abstract

As part of journalism's commitment to truth and justice by providing a diversity of relevant points of view, journalists have an obligation to provide the perspective of nonhuman animals in everyday stories that influence the animals' and our lives. This essay provides justification and guidance on why and how this can be accomplished, recommending that, when writing about nonhuman animals or issues, journalists should: 1) observe, listen to, and communicate with animals and convey this information to audiences via detailed descriptions and audiovisual media, 2) interpret nonhuman animal behavior and communication to provide context and meaning, and 3) incorporate the animals’ stories and perspectives, and consider what is in their best interest. To fairly balance animal-industry sources and the anthropocentric biases that are traditionally inherent in news requires that journalists select less objectifying language and more appropriate human sources without a vested interest in how animals are used.

Description
This is a preprint of an article submitted for consideration in Journalism Studies © 2011 Taylor & Francis; Journalism Studies is available: http://www.tandfonline.com/openurl?genre=article&issn=1461-670X&volume=12&issue=5&spage=590.
Date
2011-01-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Journalism Ethics, Animal Communication, Animal Rights/Liberation, Critical Animal Studies, Animal Behavior, Animals, Diversity, Ethics, News, Source
Citation
Freeman, C. P., Bekoff, M. & Bexell, S. (2011). Giving voice to the voiceless: Incorporating nonhuman animal perspectives as journalistic sources. <em>Journalism Studies, 12</em>(5), 590-607.
Embedded videos