KSL NewsRadio specific web style guide

KSL NewsRadio uses the AP Stylebook for most style guide questions. Here are a few areas where KSL NewsRadio may differ from the AP. Get the shared log-in from Kira Hoffelmeyer, Simone Seikaly or Sam Herrera.

Proper names and titles

President of the United States

President Joe Biden on the first reference; Mr. Biden, President Biden, or the president on the second and any subsequent references.

Church President + leadership

President Russell M. Nelson is President Nelson on all subsequent references. Never Nelson, Dr. Nelson, or Mr. Nelson. The same goes for others in church leadership, for Apostles, it will always be Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on the first reference and then Elder Holland on all subsequent references.

Other name references

Pretty much anyone else is going to get their first and last name on the first reference, and their last name only after that.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Full name on the first reference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On the second reference, you may use “the church.” Note that the church, in that sense, is not capitalized.

“Mormon” is correctly used in proper names, such as the Book of Mormon, or when used as an adjective in certain historical expressions, e.g, “Mormon Trail.”

Do not use abbreviations such as LDS or nicknames such as Mormon as substitutes for the name of the church itself.

There are commonly incorrect capitalizations in the name of the church. Most common are a failure to keep the ‘t’ in the Church lowercase, and an improper capitalization of ‘day’ in Latter-day.

It should always be The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Disclosing a “bias” 

KSL NewsRadio and its affiliates should add a disclosure at the bottom of an article about who owns the station in any story related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Paste this at the bottom of your article: 

Bonneville International Corporation, the company that owns KSL NewsRadio, is a subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sensitive topics and other notes

Suicide

KSL does not report on individual suicides as a general rule unless there is something newsworthy about the death. When we do report on suicide, we never report the manner of death. Instead, we say, “Robin Williams died by suicide.”

Any story about suicide, whether an individual suicide or the issue more broadly, should include mental health resources. 

Paste this at the bottom of your article:

If you or anyone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline or the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (1-801-583-2500).

Domestic violence

Any story about domestic violence should include resources for victims of domestic abuse. 

Paste this at the bottom of your article:

If you or someone you know are experiencing trouble linked to domestic violence, the following resources are available to you.

Utah Domestic Violence LINKLine
1-800-897-LINK (5465)

If LINKLine advocates are experiencing an increased call volume, calls will be forwarded to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

StrongHearts Native Helpline
1-844-762-8483

This is also an alternative:

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship there is help available here in Utah and nationwide.

• YWCA’s Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600
• Utah statewide Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-897-LINK (5465) and udvc.org
• 24-hour Salt Lake victim advocate hotline: 801-580-7969
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233

Addiction/recovery

Any story about drug abuse, addiction, or recovery should include resources for people fighting addictions. 

Paste this at the bottom of your article:

Resources for those suffering from addiction

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• AA Utah
• LDS Addiction Recovery Program

Fundraising

Any story that includes a GoFundMe or other fundraiser for someone in need requires a legal disclaimer.

Paste this at the bottom of your article:

KSL NewsRadio does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and
otherwise proceed at your own risk.

Abortion

Use the modifiers “anti-abortion” or “abortion rights; don’t use pro-life, pro-choice or pro-abortion except in quotes or proper names. Avoid abortionists, which connotes a person who performs clandestine abortions.

Disabilities

Always write about a person with a disability as “a person with that disability”, rather than a disabled person. Examples: “a person who is blind”, or “child with autism.”

Content from talk/opinion programs

Opinion/editorial writing requires clear labeling in the headline, a disclaimer before the body of the story, and clear labeling in the excerpt as well. Use “Opinion” or the host’s name in the headline.

Example: Opinion: Lauren McCluskey deserved better from the U.

Please also include disclaimer verbiage at the top of the article.

Paste this: This is an editorial piece. An editorial, like a news article, is based on fact but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom.

It’s also worth pasting links when content is from a specific show. 

Utah’s Morning News

Utah’s Morning News with Tim Hughes and Amanda Dickson can be heard on weekdays from 5 to 9 a.m.

Dave & Dujanovic

Dave & Dujanovic can be heard on weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Utah’s Noon News

Utah’s Noon News can be heard on weekdays from 12 to 1 p.m.

Inside Sources

Inside Sources with Boyd Matheson can be heard on weekdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News

Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News can be heard on weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m.

Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News 

Since this is an opinion, this piece would start with an editorial note.

This is an editorial piece. An editorial, like a news article, is based on fact but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom. 

And it would finish with a tease to Jeff’s MMON and a podcast playlist embed.

Listen to Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News every weekday from 3 to 7 p.m. for more of his “My Minute of News.” And check out the podcast below.

 

KSL at Night

KSL at Night can be heard most weekdays from 7 to 9 p.m.

Podcasts

When writing for a podcast or on-air program, try to include information about the show and its host (and when possible, embed the appropriate podcast episode) at the end of the story. 

Example: Listen to Cold on the KSL Newsradio website or on Apple Podcasts.

Follow @kirahoffelmeyer