Writing and Editing Stories About Adoption
How Journalists Use Language to Accurately Portray Adoptive Families
The news media undoubtedly shapes public views of adoption. Updated adoption language sets the stage for accurate reporting in news stories about adoptive families. Adoption reporting also challenges writers to take a step back and view adoption from the various perspectives of triad members (birth parents, adoptees and adoptive parents.) By following a few simple suggestions, journalists can accurately depict the realities of adoptive families and help their audiences better understand adoption and its role in society.
Room for Improvement in Adoption Reporting
Research based on 292 adoption news reports appearing on major U.S. television networks from 2001 to 2004 and published in the September 2006 issue of Family Relations found “media coverage of adoptees contained more problematic than positive depictions.”
Fourteen percent of the news stories contained stigmatizing claims without proof, argued researchers Susan L. Kline, Amanda I. Karel and Karishma Chatterjee in the article, “Covering Adoption: General Depictions in Broadcast News.”
Recognizing the need for improvement, journalists have pursued change in the industry and formed Accurate Adoption Reporting. The group has pushed for an adoption entry in The Associated Press Stylebook and collaborated with the Adoption Information Institute to develop A Journalist's Guide to Adoption.
Accurate Adoption Language
A major change for the adoption community in recent years involves actively weeding out antiquated, negative adoption language and using more constructive terms. Phrases such as “put up for adoption” and “abandoned or orphaned” are unacceptable. Below are some examples of negative terms replaced by more accurate and positive adoption language. Taken from A Journalist's Guide to Adoption, the negative terms appear first and are followed by more positive, accurate words.
Negative Terms = Constructive Terms
- Real parent, natural parent = Birth or biological parent
- Own child = Birth or biological child
- Illegitimate = Born to unmarried parents
- Give away, give up = Make an adoption plan
- Put up for adoption = Make an adoption plan
- To keep = To parent
- Unwanted, abandoned = (No equivalent language)
- Adoptable or available child = Child in need of a family
- Reunion = Meeting, making contact with
- Adoptive parent = Parent (Adoptive parent only when relevant to story)
- Foreign adoption = International or intercountry adoption
- Track down = Locate, contact
- Surrender = Enter into an adoption agreement
- Hard to place child = Child with special needs
- Foreign child = Child from another country
- Is adopted = Was adopted
- Blood relatives = Genetic relatives
- Meth or drug babies = Babies born to mothers who used drugs
The Difference Between “Is Adopted” and “Was Adopted”
While negative language appears obvious in some cases, other phrases such as “is adopted” often go unnoticed by those outside the adoption community. The phrase "is adopted" has been replaced by “was adopted” in an effort to reinforce the idea that adoption does not entirely define a person.
Adoption certainly represents an important aspect in one’s life and history. At the same time, a person’s birth or adoptive status should only be mentioned if it’s relevant to the story. In some cases, for example, it wouldn’t be relevant to include in a story that someone was born prematurely or by Caesarean section. If it were pertinent, the writer would describe the event in past-tense form, hence the phrase “was adopted.” A conscientious writer would never write, “She is premature.”
Adoption Language Matters to Adoptees and Their Loved Ones
Recognizing the need for updated adoption language means more than appearing politically correct for audiences. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates 1.6 million children in the U.S. were adopted. That’s 2.5 percent of all children in the U.S. These people, as well as their family and friends, often are hurt by negative views and stereotypes. Journalists can help improve views about adoption by choosing words carefully so audiences better understand adoption and those profoundly affected by it.
Girl Reading Newspaper
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Writing & Publishing
Latest Articles