User:Naillacquer/sandbox

Since she came out as transgender on August 22, 2013, there has been controversy over how various news sources have reported on Chelsea Manning, specifically in regards to what name and pronoun she is referred to as. The controversy itself has received significant media coverage.

Press release from Manning
On August 22, 2013, Manning released the following press release to the Today show announcing that she identifies as female and requesting that the media refer to her by her new name and feminine pronouns:

"As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me. I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female. Given the way that I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible. I hope that you will support me in this transition. I also request that, starting today, you refer to me by my new name and use the feminine pronoun (except in official mail to the confinement facility). I look forward to receiving letters from supporters and having the opportunity to write back."

Initial media coverage
While some news outlets chose to respect Manning request in regards to the name and pronoun she preferred, many ignored it, including CNN, ABC News, the Boston Globe, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, Politico, the Telegraph, the Times of London, the Los Angeles Times.

New York Times
The New York Times reported on Manning's press release, saying "Pfc. Bradley Manning said Thursday that he was female" and continuing to refer to her by as "Bradley" and by masculine pronouns throughout the article.

The same day, the Times published a follow-up piece by Christine Haughney on how different news outlets have chosen to refer to Manning, in regards to name and pronoun. In the article, she quotes Times managing editor Dean Baquet, saying "Generally speaking we call people by their new name when they ask us to, and when they actually begin their new lives. In this case we made the judgment readers would be totally confused if we turned on a dime overnight and changed the name and gender of a person in the middle of a major running news story. That’s not a political decision. It is one aimed at our primary constituency — our readers."

Also the same day, Times public editor Margaret Sullivan then released an op-ed on the decision. She quotes deputy editor Susan Wessling, saying "We can’t just spring a new name and a new pronoun [on readers with no explanation]," and quotes associate managing editor Philip B. Corbett saying the paper's reporting "will evolve over time." Sullivan also quotes the paper's “Manual of Style and Usage” guideline on transgender persons: "Unless a former name is newsworthy or pertinent, use the name and pronouns (he, his, she, her, hers) preferred by the transgender person." She concludes her article "It’s tricky, no doubt. But given Ms. Manning’s preference, it may be best to quickly change to the feminine and to explain that — rather than the other way around."

On August 26, the New York Times and the Associated Press both released statements saying they would begin referring to Manning as 'Chelsea' and by female pronouns.

USA Today
USA Today, which also referred to Manning by her birth name and masculine pronouns, published a follow-up article titled "Media torn in Manning 'he' or 'she' pronoun debate". The article quotes USA Today Editor in Chief David Callaway, saying "Style evolves with the culture, and the latest style recommendations are that transgender people should be described as they want to be described. That said, Private Manning has been known as a male to this day, so should be regarded as 'he' at least for the immediate future. We will continue to discuss."

NPR
In initial reporting, National Public Radio referred to Manning as 'Bradley' and by masculine pronouns. In Christine Haughney's article for the New York Times, NPR spokeswoman Anna Bross is quoted as saying "Until Bradley Manning’s desire to have his gender changed actually physically happens, we will be using male-related pronouns to identify him."

On August 23 in response to criticism, NPR released a statement saying their "thinking has evolved" and that the organization will now refer to Manning by her preferred name and pronouns.

Response to coverage
GLAAD released a statement encouraging media outlets to refer to Manning by her prefered name and pronoun, saying "It is imperative that media outlets reporting on Chelsea Manning's announcement are respectful of her gender identity...All references to Manning should refer to her as Chelsea and use female pronouns, as is consistent with the AP Style Book guidelines. If necessary, a clarifying sentence may be used which explains that Manning was referred to as "Bradley Manning" during the trial."

The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association echoed the sentiment, adding "It is not about surgeries and hormones. If a person wants to talk about these very personal topics, fine, but one’s gender identity and right to be respected aren’t dependent on taking such actions, nor are these necessarily public topics."

'New York Magazine'' published an article titled "Why Is It So Hard to Call Chelsea Manning ‘She’?", writing:

"Why is it so hard for people to type an extra s when they write about Manning? We updated our nomenclature for 'Snoop Lion' and 'the Artist Formerly Known as Prince.' 'Ali Lohan' and 'Lil' Bow Wow' became 'Aliana' and 'Bow Wow' to reflect personal growth. We accept typographical requests from branded products like iPhone, PowerPoint, and eHarmony — and from branded humans like Ke$ha, A$AP Rocky, and 'N Sync. (The last being unusual even without the asterisk.) The idiosyncrasies of capitalism, apparently, are more compelling than a human's self-professed gender."

The Huffington Post's Alex Hayden-Dilalla also criticized the coverage, writing "Perhaps, Chelsea Manning, having been finally convicted in this highly divisive case, is not worthy of being identified by her preferred name and gender pronouns in the eyes of CNN, the Times, the Post, the Tribune, and countless other mainstream media sources. Invariably, the controlling issue of tenuous -- if not absent -- respect and understanding for gender identity is one that seems to be implicitly rationalized by the authors of these articles as acceptable because of the political implications of Manning's actions and public persona."

Similarly, Katie McDonough wrote for Salon.com "Manning has made her identity clear. She has made her request clear. To ignore these facts while reporting them is not just bad journalism — it’s utterly bigoted."

Wikipedia
The media coverage has been compared to Manning's Wikipedia article, which was updated to reflect her wishes shortly after her statement was released.

Slate.com, which criticized the press for its slow adoption of female pronouns for Manning,, praised Wikipedia for its speed: "The press... has spent the morning debating the matter, while Wikipedia quickly and quietly settled the issue as soon as it arose, capitalizing on its crowdsourced efficiency."

Buzzfeed also praised Wikipedia in comparison with the mainstream media.

The Wikipedia user who made the change, Abigail Brady (known by the username Morwen), was interviewed by the New Statesman, where she discussed the internal controversy within the Wikipedia community over the changes.