It is rare to find the term “unborn children” used in the Boston Globe, unless it is within a quote from a pro-life advocate. However today the term appears on the Globe’s front page sidebar in connection with this news story of a horrid (but failed) attempted murder. As of today Google reports that for pages at boston.com with the word “abortion” there are only 42 pages that also contain the term “unborn children”, many of which are quotes from pro-lifers. But 460 pages, over 10 times that many, contain the word “fetus”.
I’m curious to know what the Boston Globe reporting style guide requires in such cases. Here the expectant mother is 7 months pregnant. I suspect that if she were at an abortion clinic, the fruit of her womb would be referred to as fetuses. But since she planned to give birth, the same entities are reported as unborn children.
How hazy is the concept of human life in today’s media (and today’s law).
2 comments:
Conversely, a "murder" "fetus" search gives 154 while a "murder" "unborn" search gives 196. The style guide has gradations of humanness based on manner of death.
"Today's media?"
In days of yore abortion used to be accomplished by the simple drowning of a new born. I think we have improved a bit though obviously little in the minds of the fetus obsessed.
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