[USMA:22414] metrication in the media brief

[Alliance for the Advancement of Technology (AAT)]

Title: metrication in the media brief

A brief on metrication in the media is featured on the current

aatideas in Brief e-zine mirrored on the web at

       http://www.aatideas.org/web.html

and the paragraph is also included below (with permission)

> As more media organizations in the United States feature

> the use of metric measures in providing content, progress

> is made in the use and development of an important

> technical literacy. Even with the use of other traditional

> units of measure in the United States, the metric system

> has become widely known. In the United States the metric

> system is already the principal system of measure for areas

> of science, engineering, and medicine. Thus media content

> should reflect the use of metric measures in news about

> areas of science, engineering, and medicine. As the metric

> system is also a principal system of measure throughout

> most of the world, the use of traditional units of measure

> should not be attributed to news content that is provided

> in metric terms from other regions. The development or

> use of a system of measurement may be approached with

> reference to applicable guidelines for use.

I checked the Associated Press stylebook and reviewed its

guidelines on the use of the metric system. I don't know

whether this reflects the most current stylebook guidelines,

however the 1998 edition has an entry on the metric system

on pp 127-8.

It generally advises the use of metric units when they are 'relevant'

yet doesn't address what units are actually known or accepted

in the United States.

There are also some guidelines re the specification of time

on pp 203-204 that elaborate a little more about certain

rationales for the use of particular time units.

As I see it this is basic support _for_ the use of metric

measures in a story, however rationales for the use of

metric measures among the US media are not consistently

manifest in media content.

And so I am wondering about strategies for helping more

of the media in the US to be more clear about the use of

metric measures in media content.

Ron

ps -- this perspective does reflect the present course of

AAT ideas programming.

--
Ronald L. Stone, programs manager
Alliance for the Advancement of Technology (AAT)

[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.aatideas.org

AAT at www.aatideas.org
PO Box 141155
Mpls., MN 55414-1155
USA