Today, Vox Media announced a new phase of Language, Please with an expansive suite of practical tools to help journalists, marketers, and now creators address the ever-changing landscape of social, cultural, and identity-related topics. This comes on the heels of a survey of 2,000 consumers, marketers, journalists, and, for the first time, creators, which discovered trends across occupations and generations about how media professionals are navigating the new media landscape. Ninety percent of journalists, 96% of marketers, and 96% of content creators said Language, Please would be useful in their work – citing tools like real world examples of inclusive language, a searchable glossary of key terms, and interactive editing tools as being particularly valuable.
This project was established by Vox Media, created in consultation with leaders from across the media industry, and developed with funding from the Google News Initiative Innovation Challenge starting in December 2020.
“As the creator economy becomes an even more vital part of the media landscape, and as more people rely on creators for news coverage, it is imperative that they have access to journalistic tools to ensure thoughtful, accurate content,” said Chris Clermont, Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Vox Media. “Misinformation and disinformation run rampant online. It is clear that there is a huge appetite for this expert-driven, rigorously developed tool that will help creators to integrate journalistic standards into their work.”
In its earlier stages, Language, Please offered journalists and marketers tools to evaluate how to authentically and accurately approach complex topics related to identity. The project now includes:
- New Style Guide Terms. The expanded list focuses on timely guidance that provides historical context and common usage alongside vetted external resources on topics related to gender identity, forms of violence and discrimination, and nationalism.
- An Expansion for Edit, Please. Edit, Please is an interactive tool that allows writers and editors to practice implementing Language, Please’s guidance. The expansion populates the tool with more material to create a richer experience for the user, as well as social tools.
- What’s in a Name? A tool that helps journalists understand and evaluate the power and use of words and labels in politics.
- Can We Talk? A resource built to foster understanding, encourage thoughtful dialogue, and support inclusive communication across diverse, collaborative work environments.
- Expanded Inclusivity Reviewer Database. In the last year, Language, Please has added 12 new inclusivity reviewers to its database of experts in the fields of journalism, academia, communications, counseling, community organizing, and publishing. The expansion is part of a broader effort to bring industry thought leaders into the project.
- Editing Love Languages. A workshop, launched as part of Poynter’s advanced certificate in editing, that introduces participants to six editing approaches and practical strategies for navigating the tricky dynamics that editors face as they develop stories and engage audiences.
To understand how Americans feel about the way language is used today, Language, Please talked to nearly 2000 individuals, including more than 400 journalists, marketers, and content creators, and conducted in-depth interviews with an additional 13 journalists and marketers about their views on and approach to language. The surveys unearthed an interesting disconnect between what people say they value and what they say to each other. Nine in ten Americans – across generations, races, income levels and political beliefs – say treating all people with dignity and respect isn’t negotiable. And more than half of respondents say that one of the top ways they show respect is through their choice of words. However, the survey identified several clear divides in Americans’ approaches to language – whether they value: intention or impact; tradition or evolution; and established or welcoming language. What was consistent, however, was an interest in learning more about the evolution of our language and having a place to investigate new terminology so they could make an independent and informed decision about if or when to incorporate new terms into their own vocabulary. Language, Please is a tool that will help people bridge that gap between intention and impact by providing not edicts about what words to use, but education about how those words came to be and how they are received.
Language, Please originally launched in 2022 as a free, living resource available to all journalists with style guidance, editorial tools, and a directory of inclusivity readers offering necessary context to help U.S. newsrooms make informed decisions about language usage. The project expanded in 2024 to continue to deepen its existing guidance and created a new section geared toward advertisers and marketers seeking research-based guidance on best practices for connecting with diverse communities.
About Vox Media
Vox Media, the leader in modern media, is home to a portfolio of top talent and engaging editorial brands that ignite conversations and set trends, including Eater, Vox, The Verge, SB Nation, The Dodo, New York Magazine, The Cut, and Vulture. The company’s podcast network is one of the largest in the U.S., publishing premium shows that inform, entertain, and delight, including Pivot, Criminal, Today Explained, Where Should We Begin?, Stay Tuned with Preet, The Vergecast, Waveform, and A Touch More. Across platforms, Vox Media defines culture through stories that shape all aspects of our audience’s lives.
