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‘Mormon Land’: How media refer to the church, and why heeding the faith’s style isn’t always easy

(Image courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

(Image courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

In August 2018, President Russell M. Nelson urged the media to use the faith’s full name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to stop employing the terms “Mormon church” or “LDS Church” — indeed to cease using “Mormon” altogether, even when referring to members.

A year later, Public Square Magazine, published from the perspective of Latter-day Saints, decided to survey whether various national news outlets — including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Associated Press and CNN — had complied and how it affected their coverage.

On this week’s podcast, Public Square Managing Editor Christopher Cunningham discusses the results, along with the challenges journalists face in heeding the church’s preferred style and the implications their word choices carry.

Listen here, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts.

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