I bet I know what you’re thinking. The “i” word? Which one is that? You’re familiar with other words banned from “family” publications and public television, but this one is a little bit new.
The “i” word is “illegal.” Specifically, when used to describe an undocumented foreign worker.
The Society of Professional Journalists, which arguably is the most well-recognized professional journalistic organization in the nation, adopted a policy in December urging its members to discontinue use of the word “illegal” when describing immigrants.
The organization specifically has concerns about the phrases “illegal alien” or “illegal immigrant.”
WHEREAS, the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics urges all journalists to be “honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information” and;
WHEREAS, mainstream news reports are increasingly using the politically charged phrase “illegal immigrant” and the more offensive and bureaucratic “illegal alien” to describe undocumented immigrants, particularly Latinos and;
WHEREAS, a fundamental principle embedded in our U.S. Constitution is that everyone (including non-citizens) is considered innocent of any crime until proven guilty in a court of law and;
WHEREAS, this constitutional doctrine, often described as “innocent-until-proven-guilty,” applies not just to U.S. Citizens but to everyone in the United States and;
WHEREAS, only the court system, not reporters and editors, can decide when a person has committed an “illegal” act and;
WHEREAS, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists is also concerned with the increasing use of pejorative and potentially inaccurate terms to describe the estimated 11 million undocumented people living in the United States;
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Society of Professional Journalists convention of delegates: urges journalists and style guide editors to stop the use of illegal alien and encourage continuous discussion and re-evaluation of the use of illegal immigrant in news stories.
Students in my Legal and Ethical Principals for Mass Communication class will address this issue during today’s Ethics Friday discussion. Students were asked to take a stance on whether the media should use the terms “illegal alien” or “illegal immigrant” when describing undocumented foreign workers. The students will then make an ethical argument to support their stance.
Let’s Talk Nerdy!
What do you think? Should media use the phrases “illegal alien” or “illegal immigrant” when reporting about undocumented workers? I would love for you to add to the discussion!
deleted_2698155_BruceSallan1 says
THIS, to me, is why contemporary journalism has declined so badly. What if not ILLEGAL are they?
susie_parker says
@thedomesticexec @profkrg w/o reading article first, my initial answer is “no”.
profkrg says
@susie_parker I’d be curious what you think after you read the policy. I went back and forth. @thedomesticexec
susie_parker says
@profkrg @thedomesticexec will comment back tonight. Thx 😉
profkrg says
@dbvickery What do you think, Brian?
dbvickery says
@profkrg Undocumented probably a better term, but I do not think illegal is inaccurate.
profkrg says
@dbvickery pretty much my feelings.
KevinTVine says
@janetcallaway @profkrg Just read this, definitely an interesting ethical question to ponder
profkrg says
Isn’t it? Insight? @KevinTVine @janetcallaway
KevinTVine says
@profkrg @janetcallaway I’ve always found journalists’ use of the “i” word questionable, but had never before seen the issue debated