Society of Professional Journalists seeks to "sensitize" reporters and editors about the term "illegal immigrant"

Members of the Society of Professional Journalists, many of whom show little enthusiasm for abiding by their organization's own rules when covering illegal immigration, may soon have another tool with which to mislead their audiences.

Derelict in their duty for years to give readers and viewers all the facts about a public policy issue that impacts every aspect of daily life, these reporters and editors are feeling pressure from the SPJ to avoid using the term "illegal immigrant" because, according to a member of the group's "Diversity Committee," it is "offensive to Latinos." 

"SPJ’s Diversity Committee met during the 2010 convention in Las Vegas and decided to engage in a yearlong educational campaign designed to inform and sensitize journalists as to the best language to use when writing and reporting on undocumented immigrants," said Committee member Leo Laurence.

But it gets better. 

Wrapping himself in the Constitution, Laurence argues, “One of the most basic of our constitutional rights is that everyone (including non-citizens) is innocent of any crime until proven guilty in a court of law . . . That’s guaranteed under the Fifth, Sixth and 14th Amendments of the Constitution.” 

“Simply put, only a judge, not a journalist, can say that someone is an illegal,” Laurence adds.

One wonders:  Does this also apply to those illegals who admit to being "undocumented?"

What will the New Year bring media-wise?

With the departure of 61 pro-amnesty members of Congress, can we expect the media to alter the way it writes about immigration now that the emphasis is going to be on tough enforcement of our immigration laws that were created primarily to protect American workers?

Will we see stories that begin with emphasis on new bills aimed at cracking down on illegals and their employers or comments from unemployed American workers who appreciate efforts to reduce competition in the job market?  Or will we be inundated with a new generation of boilerplate sob stories about how enforcement is making illegals' search for a better life so much more difficult?

To borrow a phrase used by radio announcers of years ago:  "Stay tuned.  We'll be right back."