For all who have been breathless waiting, the new AP Stylebook was released on June 1. E&P says, “It’s the copy editor’s bible, the one book they reach for when questions of style, or usage, or even spelling arise.”
The 2010 edition has been much anticipated because it contains six pages of social media guidelines in response to user feedback. Interest developed several months ago when it was announced that “Web site” would be changed to “website” in the new edition.
The new Social Media Guidelines section includes information and policies on using social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and how journalists should or shouldn’t use social media in their work.
Lauren McCullough, manager of social networks and news engagement at the AP said, “We thought the Stylebook was a good vehicle to put some really basic guidelines out there for journalists to reference and consider.” (as quoted in PoynterOnline)
The new Stylebook provide definitions of Web words in common usage, such as, avatar, Wikipedia, and ROFL, which leaves some new media savy users, well — ROFL, for lack of a better term. @FakeAPStylebook on Twitter, which satirizes the Stylebook, has attracted about 129,000 followers in seven months.
Other items tell us when to use Wal-Mart vs. Walmart and how to capitalize the titles of blogs. But to the disappointment of many, the hyphenated “e-mail” instead of “email” remains unchanged.
The Stylebook was first produced in 1953 as 60 pages of rules and has grown to a publication of more than 450 pages today, attempting to provide consistency among a worldwide editorial staff.
The Associated Press (AP) is a global news network delivering a trusted source of independent news and information for media.
To read more go to:
http://www.ap.org/pages/about/pressreleases/pr_060210a.html
http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=101&aid=184307
