Thread by @Sentient_Media

One month ago, the Norwegian fishing ministry shot #FreyatheWalrus dead, leading to media coverage saying she was “euthanized.”

Today, we look at four euphemistic terms used by industries that profit from #animal death and at outlets repeating this lingo without scrutiny. 1/10

Outlets like @guardian, @euronews, @CNN and @NPR were among many that used the word “euthanized” to describe Freya’s death.

A rare exception, which did not repeat the language used by the #fishing ministry, was a piece by @jasondhorowitz at @nytimes. 2/10
nytimes.com/2022/08/19/wor…

Animal #euthanasia is supposed to be an act that reduces suffering, says veterinarian @iltaylorwriter.

Freya was neither ill nor suffering. She was shot because Norway’s #fishing ministry @fiskeridir declared relocation “not a viable option.” 3/10

“Cull” is another industry term media outlets often repeat.

This week, @HarryCockburn reported on 2.8 million birds being “culled” in the UK due to #BirdFlu outbreaks without explaining the methods farmers use to kill so many #chickens at once. 4/10
independent.co.uk/climate-change…

At @Sentient_Media, we have used the term “cull” in a report about #BirdFlu, while clarifying what it means:

During outbreaks, #poultry producers often suffocate birds by ventilation shut down or burying them in foam. @DNairSM & @matthewzampa report. 5/10
sentientmedia.org/bird-flu-sprea…

Another term used to describe the killing of #animals is “depopulation.”

@TimesNow recently reported on experts stressing the importance of "herd depopulation" as a necessary step to stop #SwineFlu—again without explaining how animals are killed. 6/10
timesnownews.com/health/punjab-…

The term “depopulation” is used to describe many killing methods.

During the pandemic, US farmers “depopulated” tens of millions of #animals by gunshot, suffocation, or blunt-force trauma, @JenniferMolidor & Mia MacDonald of @BrighterGreenNY report. 7/10
sentientmedia.org/gassed-shot-an…

The media also sometimes uses the term “humanely slaughtered” when reporting about #animals being killed.

@aditimrane recently reported via @HullLive that birds on a poultry farm were “due to be humanely slaughtered,” according to @DefraGovUK. 8/10
hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east…

“Synonyms for the word #humane include compassionate, benevolent & kind. In other words, by referring to #slaughter as being humane, we are also saying that it is compassionate.”

Ed Winters scrutinizes the term “humanely slaughtered” via @IrishTimes. 9/10
irishtimes.com/culture/books/…

At Sentient Media, we understand the weight words carry in #journalism.

Help us hold mainstream outlets accountable for being complicit in perpetuating myths about #animals being killed by donating or joining our membership program.👇 10/10
sentientmedia.org/donate