NPR, which prides itself on being independent and without corporate overseers, interviewed fashion columnist Robin Givhan about the use of fur in fashion.
In the brief interview, host Rachel Martin asked about ethical designer Stella McCartney’s styles, but quickly degenerated into a sales pitch for the fur industry.
“There was a little bit of a cabal, probably, to bring fur back,” Givhan said. “The fur industry would give designers pelts or give them pelts at a greatly reduced price so that they could experiment.”
Nothing was said about the animals themselves – the mink, fox, chinchillas, rabbits, coyote or other fur-bearers who are killed in cruel traps or on factory-style fur farms. For a media organization that heralds their independence like a sword and their public-funding like a shield, it is entirely inappropriate and irresponsible to not bring in the other sources of this story: the animals, or those who speak for them.
We continue to recommend that all journalists read the incredible paper by Carrie Packwood Freeman, Marc Bekoff and Sarah Bexell titled ‘Giving Voice to the Voiceless: Incorporating Nonhuman Animal Perspectives as Journalistic Sources.’
When it comes to telling the stories of our world, all voices matter – ours, yours and the animals.
Work like our growing Make Fur History campaign is only possible with the support of monthly donors. Please consider become a monthly donor – for as little as $10 a month – and help us Make Fur History.
