May 25, 2019 - Economy

Public confusion follows abortion media coverage

Abortion activists holding signs

Photo: Ronen Tivony/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

Local and national media outlets were quick to cover the sweeping abortion bans passed in a handful red states, resulting in public confusion about what is and isn't happening, per the Columbia Journalism Review.

The big picture: While some abortion bans passed, they aren't all active or enforceable yet. Many outlets left out details of when the abortion bans go into effect, so some people interpreted the bans to mean they were immediately effective, according to CJR.

The big picture: The other challenge with abortion reporting is that other topics surrounding reproductive rights — such as increasing maternal deaths — can be overlooked. There is also rarely discussion about reproductive rights for trans and non-binary individuals, per CJR.

Go deeper: Where abortion restriction stands: The states that have passed laws

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