Associated Press offers new guidance to media on ‘racially charged’ vs ‘racist’

The Associated Press on Friday offered new guidance to media organizations that write about issues of race and racism.

The AP Stylebook is now discouraging publications from using euphemisms for “racist,” like “racially charged” or “racially tinged.”

{mosads}“Do not use racially charged or similar terms as euphemisms for racist or racism when the latter terms are truly applicable,” the new entry reads. “If racist is not the appropriate term, give careful thought to how best to describe the situation. Alternatives include racially divisive, racially sensitive, or in some cases, simply racial.”

The change was announced at the ACES: The Society for Editing’s annual conference.

Do not use racially charged or similar terms as euphemisms for racist or racism when the latter terms are truly applicable. #ACES2019 #ACESAPstyle

— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) March 29, 2019

If racist is not the appropriate term, give careful thought to how best to describe the situation. Alternatives include racially divisive, racially sensitive, or in some cases, simply racial.#ACES2019 #ACESAPstyle

— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) March 29, 2019

Many news publications have been criticized for using phrases like “racially charged” to describe racist incidents or political issues.

Trump is separating thousands of children, most if not all of them Mexican and Central American, from their parents and incarcerating them indefinitely. He is employing white nationalist rhetoric. This is well the fuck beyond “racially charged,” @nytimes. https://t.co/ockpdJDXQi

— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) June 19, 2018

The AP is also discouraging the use of hyphens in terms like “African American” and “Asian American.”