by Bobby Coles

Created on: May 07, 2009   Last Updated: March 27, 2010

Ethnic and racial descriptions have long been a part of mainstream journalism. They are, however, unnecessary to a certain degree. Many times they are used as adjectives, but with a negative connotation attached. The tasteful use of racial and ethnic descriptions in news stories is vital to the appeal of the story. A journalist wishes for the largest possible audience to read their material on a daily basis, so they must use colourful language in an appropriate manner.

Racially charged descriptives have no place in a news story, unless done so in a completely tasteful manner. Ethnicity plays a factor in a news story only if it is a direct piece of the story. It is difficult to tastefully use any racial or ethnic descriptions, so one must be extremely careful to not offend anyone. When they are necessary to use, they must be used within context, and in a manner that is not demeaning in any way, shape, or form.

News stories sometimes need to use descriptions, and they may need to be race or ethnicity specific. In these instances, word choice becomes crucially important. A news story cannot reflect any bias, and some descriptions carry with them negative connotations. Finding out the proper word choice can be rather involved. Consulting with members of the local Embassy may steer you in the right direction.

A racial or ethnic description in a news story should be used tastefully, which means that it does not conjure up any negative thoughts, nor does it leave a feeling of ignorance and fear in the mind of the reader. The descriptions should be positive and helpful to the news story. If the use of certain words or phrases does not enhance the story, then they should be omitted.

The times reflect appropriate language and terminology. Society is comprised of many different people, all of whom are unique, yet we are all the same in our desire to be respected, and to be judged on our character, not the racial or ethnic composition of our ancestors. Diverse societies demand equality, and it should be granted at every turn, especially by the media.

Social values and ethical guidelines enable a fair and unbiased notion of people in the journalism field. News stories can be told without generalizations, racial undertones, or stereotypical descriptions. Once a story has been written, an esteemed journalist will scour through, and replace questionable language with less invasive wording. If a racial or ethnic description is warranted, it should be done so in a respectable

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next Page >>