"AP Styles 'Deniers' into 'Doubters,' Creating Newsroom Skeptics"

"As the Associated Press tries to create consensus on what to call those who question climate science, more disagreement ensues."

"A week after the Associated Press changed its official style on how to describe people who do not accept climate change science, its attempt to clarify the issue has resulted in little clarity. There is little agreement among climate reporters on if and how they would follow the new recommendation, and whether it will make any difference.

The AP's official stylebook––a widely used guide on word choice, grammar and other elements of writing––advised reporters to stop using "skeptics" or "deniers" and adopt "climate change doubters" or "those who reject mainstream climate science."

Some reporters praised the change, while others vowed to stick to the old terminology, or only accepted part of the new guideline. Although the stylebook is meant to standardize word choice across newsrooms, the change has failed to create a consensus on the term."

Lisa Song reports for InsideClimate News September 29, 2015.