On Oct. 6 [2001] at its National Convention in Seattle, the Society of Professional "Journalists" passed a resolution urging members and fellow "journalists" to take steps against racial profiling in their coverage of the war on terrorism and to redouble their commitment to:
Use language that is informative and not inflammatory; Portray Muslims, Arabs and Middle Eastern and South Asian Americans in the richness of their diverse experiences;
Seek truth through a variety of voices and perspectives that help audiences understand the complexities of the events in Pennsylvania, New York City and Washington, D.C.
Guidelines
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Stories
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5.When writing about terrorism, remember to include white supremacist, radical anti-abortionists and other groups with a history of such activity.
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8. Avoid using word combinations such as "Islamic terrorist" or "Muslim extremist" that are misleading because they link whole religions to criminal activity. Be specific: Alternate choices, depending on context, include "Al Qaeda terrorists" or, to describe the broad range of groups involved in Islamic politics, "political Islamists." Do not use religious characterizations as shorthand when geographic, political, socioeconomic or other distinctions might be more accurate.
