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 manner.
Many people, not necessarily groups of people, feel under-appreciated and devalued by society as it currently stands. They do not need any fuel in their fires, so they do not need to feel as though they have been demeaned in a news story. Video footage of a news story will tell enough for the viewing audience, negative connotations can be left out of the story.
Weaving a tapestry of questionable descriptions warrants dismissal from journalism. Tastefully describing people is an art form that needs to be mastered. There is a fine line that should not be crossed. By saying that a person is suffering from diabetes is more tasteful than referring to someone as diabetic. My uncle has cancer, he isn't cancer. We have become lazy with our conversational skills, and most tasteless comments are bred through ignorance. This is no different than calling someone Asian, Russian, or Nordic.
News stories do not always require the usage of racial or ethnic descriptives, but at times they do become a necessity. At these times, it is vital to remember that all people are uniquely different, and we have all been subjected to differing forms of experiences and rearing. We have all had our character and our life shaped through our race, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and religious beliefs, among a whole host of other factors. Who we are is not linked to the past behaviours of other people that share common traits.
Labels are for jars, not people. This is an invaluable analogy, one that can keep a journalist focused on the task at hand. Lumping people together is lazy, and shoddy journalism. When utilizing racial or ethnic descriptions, it is important to realize that the public is unique as well, and every person reading the news already has their own personal opinions on all matters race related. A journalist should not feed into prejudice or ignorance.
A journalist must remember this when reporting a news story. If describing a person or a group of people, it is imperative that he or she does not belittle, besmirch, or sully the name and reputation of the subject. Defamation of character is a damaging charge, much to the chagrin of the uninformed journalist that writes terminology common to the water cooler, but not acceptable on a global scope.
People are products of their environments, for the most part, but that does not mean that they can be generalized as such. Through jargon or slang, ideas can easily be manipulated and misconstrued. The focus of a journalist is to report fact-based information in a tactful, and respectful manner. By policing their own ethics with a watchful eye, a journalist can steer clear of verbiage that may mar or discredit a story or further segregate a group of innocent people.
Professionalism dictates that people should be described by names, ages, and whereabouts. Appearance is not newsworthy, unless it is absolutely mandatory. Sometimes a journalist must describe a person or a group of people, and this is where tastefulness comes in handy. By speaking with people, it may be easier to understand how they prefer to be described generically.
Journalists are faced with taxing dilemmas every time they write an article or do a news report. Often, the race and ethnicity of people in the story is of little or no significance. However, once in a while, they are key descriptives, such as when reporting a suspect in a murder case. Using language to describe the perpetrators finds a hazy cloud looming ominously above. A journalist must carefully select his wording in these scenarios.
Keeping in mind that the audience of your news story is not simply Archie Bunker, the racial and ethnic descriptives that are employed must be tasteful and accurate. A journalist must not fall into the trap of prejudice, nor should they make generalizations or stereotypical analogies. Every person deserves humane compassion and respect, and must be judged solely on their character and their actions.
Describing people can sometimes be done simply through the use of gender, hair colour, and body type. There are times, however, when perhaps only an eye witness account is available, and the journalist must decipher precisely how to describe the suspect. Not all people from the middle east are practising Muslims, nor do they all have terror in their hearts.
Quick judgments or unflattering descriptives can be detrimental to a journalists integrity. In pursuit of the truth and a good news story, a journalist must make every effort possible to display not one ounce of bias or prejudice that might sway a reader's thoughts. Despite the fact that every journalist has their own personal proclivities and writing style, tact and decorum are of the utmost importance and significance.
Through the use of the term Caucasian, a journalist can narrow down a field of potential suspects to those people that are white, but not exclusively denigrate an entire population. The use of language is a powerful tool, and one that should not be used for nefarious purposes. Language must be employed in a clear and concise manner, never wavering from precise clarity.
When reporting, tastefulness is always imperative. If it is absolutely necessary to include race or ethnicity in a news story, then it needs to be done with a heightened level of sincerity, integrity, taste, and modesty. A journalist should never write in such a way as to lump together all people of a specific race or ethnicity in a negative light.
All people are different and unique in their own right, and deserve to be respected as such. A good journalist worth his or her weight in salt will know how to accurately describe somebody in a news story without calling into question their own hidden agendas or prejudices.
By eliminating racial slang and obscene language, people can be referred to of their own accord. Journalism teaches its members to report in a fair, honest, and unbiased manner, and their use of language is top priority.
Being tasteful and respecting other people of differing race and ethnicity displays compassion and humanity, which are integral to the significance and relevance of any news story worthy of being reported. News stories are counted on by millions to understand the world around them, and therefore do not need to be distracted by racial or ethnic slurs.
If the story were being written specifically about you, in what light would you care to see yourself cast? This is a question a journalist should ask in the mirror prior to penning the first few lines of a news story. Tastefulness will surely follow.