Exposed: Society of Professional Journalists ‘Guidebook’ on Spinning Islamic Terror Stories, Truth Revolt, Tiffany Gabbay, June 15, 2016
The following “handbook” for professional journalists began re-circulating on social media recently and we thought it relevant to share in light of the deceitful mainstream media coverage following the Islamic terror attack in Orlando.
Guidelines for Countering Racial, Ethnic and Religious Profiling, first disseminated by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) immediately after the 9/11 terror attack, exposes how members of the media are instructed to skew stories about Islamic terrorism.
The professional trade body bills itself as a pillar of journalistic integrity. The SJP website states that “public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy” and that “ethical journalism strives to ensure the free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough.”
“An ethical journalist acts with integrity,” states the SJP website without hint of irony. In fact, the Society lays out the following “Code of Ethics” members of media are encouraged to follow:
Seek Truth and
Report It
Minimize Harm
Be Accountable and Transparent
SPJ, which reportedly has about 300 chapters across the U.S., released the following guidebook for journalists during its National Convention in Seattle in October, 2001.
The Society passed a resolution “urging members and fellow journalists to take steps against racial profiling in their coverage of the war on terrorism and to reaffirm 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.
In its general guidelines for all coverage concerning Islamic terrorism, the SPJ guidebook continues by instructing journalists to:
— Seek out people from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds when photographing Americans mourning those lost in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.
— Seek out people from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds when photographing rescue and other public service workers and military personnel.
— Do not represent Arab Americans and Muslims as monolithic groups. Avoid conveying the impression that all Arab Americans and Muslims wear traditional clothing.
— Use photos and features to demystify veils, turbans and other cultural articles and customs.
— Seek out and include Arabs and Arab Americans, Muslims, South Asians and men and women of Middle Eastern descent in all stories about the war, not just those about Arab and Muslim communities or racial profiling.
— Cover the victims of harassment, murder and other hate crimes as thoroughly as you cover the victims of overt terrorist attacks.
— Make an extra effort to include olive-complexioned and darker men and women, Sikhs, Muslims and devout religious people of all types in arts, business, society columns and all other news and feature coverage, not just stories about the crisis.
— Seek out experts on military strategies, public safety, diplomacy, economics and other pertinent topics who run the spectrum of race, class, gender and geography.
— When writing about terrorism, remember to include white supremacist, radical anti-abortionists and other groups with a history of such activity.
— Do not imply that kneeling on the floor praying, listening to Arabic music or reciting from the Quran are peculiar activities.
— When describing Islam, keep in mind there are large populations of Muslims around the world, including in Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, India and the United States. Distinguish between various Muslim states; do not lump them together as in constructions such as “the fury of the Muslim world.”
— 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.
— Avoid using terms such as “jihad” unless you are certain of their precise meaning and include the context when they are used in quotations. The basic meaning of “jihad” is to exert oneself for the good of Islam and to better oneself.
— Consult the Library of Congress guide for transliteration of Arabic names and Muslim or Arab words to the Roman alphabet. Use spellings preferred by the American Muslim Council, including “Muhammad,” “Quran,” and “Makkah ,” not “Mecca.”
— Regularly seek out a variety of perspectives for your opinion pieces. Check your coverage against the five Maynard Institute for Journalism Education fault lines of race and ethnicity, class, geography, gender and generation.
— Ask men and women from within targeted communities to review your coverage and make suggestions.
The SJP guidebook for covering Islamic terrorism is still prominently featured on their website, indicating it is still very much in practice and part of the organization’s professional instruction for journalists.
Given the abominable mainstream media coverage over the last 15 years since 9-11, it’s not difficult to see that this willful, calculated deceit — sorry, “code of ethics” — has been followed to the letter.
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