Secret family languages, Paywall information gap

Air Date:
Heard On Central Time
A woman in a yellow sweater sits with twin boys on her lap as they read a book.
Amy reads with her twin boys Bryce, center, and Declan, right, during the day Friday, Jan 7, 2022, in Madison, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

We learn more about how families create special words or phrases that only mean something to themselves. Then, a journalism ethics professor helps us better understand how paywalls for quality online news can create an information gap between those who can and can’t afford it.

Featured in this Show

  • Familects: Secret languages of intimacy and connection

    We talk to a language expert about “familects”—the unique words and phrases we develop within our tight-knit social groups to establish and strengthen our connections to one another.

  • The information gap created by journalism paywalls

    Some news outlets have paywalls on their online stories to generate enough revenue to pay their journalists, but this can create an information ecosystem where the only people who have access to quality reporting are those who can afford it. A journalism ethics professor joins us to explore how media companies can balance their competing interests of generating revenue and informing the public.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Sarah Hopefl Technical Director
  • Tyler Ditter Technical Director
  • Beatrice Lawrence Producer
  • Lorin Cox Producer
  • Martha Barnette Guest
  • Kathleen Bartzen Culver Guest

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