[AEJMC Newspaper Division list] Consider telling TODAY the AP to stop using 'illegal immigrant' in style book

[Debashis Aikat]

I am forwarding This message from my colleague, Professor Lucila Vargas, 
[lcvargas at email.unc.edu] of the UNC_Chapel Hill School of Journalism and 
Mass Communication.


>From Dr.Lucila Vargas [[lcvargas at email.unc.edu]

Dear All,

The AP Stylebook editors are asking for suggestions on what to change. The 
deadline is TODAY. It takes a minute.

http://www.apstylebook.com/?do=social_media

NAHJ suggests to use "undocumented person."  I prefer NOT to use 
"undocumented" as a noun.

The following text is an edited version of an email from Adelante, a 
Latina/o advocacy organization, which explains why journalists and editors 
shouldn't use the term illegal"

Thanks,  --Lucila

"Despite pushback from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists1 
and the Society of Professional Journalists 2, the AP still uses the 
phrase illegal immigrant.

There are few words in the media that have done more damage to our 
community than the word illegal. Phrases like "illegal immigrant" make it 
easier for states like Alabama to pass horrific laws that treat people 
like me as less than human3.

Whats important for the AP to know isnt just that the word illegal is 
dehumanizing and unfairly applied to Latinos, but its also legally 
innacurate. For every other legal matter journalists are very careful not 
to act as judge and jury. That is why, even in the face of overwhelming 
evidence, journalists always use the words like alleged when discussing an 
individual crime.
Journalists and the AP, however, have not applied the same standards to 
immigrants, judging them as illegal before theyve ever been determined as 
such by any court of law.

Tell the AP to stop acting as judge and jury and 
stop dehumanizing our community with the word illegal.
http://www.apstylebook.com/?do=social_media

If you need tips for what to write to the AP see this helpful guide from 
the folks at the Drop The I-Word campaign:
http://colorlines.com/droptheiword/blog/take-action-now-tell-the-associated-press-to-drop-the-i-word.html

References:
1. NAHJ Urges News Media To Stop Using The Term 'Illegals' When Covering 
Immigration." NAHJ.org. 9/10/2009.
http://bit.ly/uosHjt

2. "Society of Professional Journalists: Reporters Shouldnt Use Pejorative 
Terms Like 'Illegal Immigrant.'" Forbes. 9/30/2011
http://onforb.es/tGUiEc

3. Please Tell Alabama to Stop Attacking Latino Children. Presente.org.
http://act.presente.org/sign/alchildren



********************************************
Debashis 'Deb' Aikat, Ph. D.
Associate Professor and Media Futurist
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
CB # 3365, Carroll Hall 374
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3365

Phone: 919 962 4090 (office)
Fax: 919 962 0620
Email: da at unc.edu

URL: http://jomc.unc.edu/faculty-staff-journalism-faculty/aikat-debashis
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