Today, FWD.us and The Center for Just Journalism are announcing the publication of a new people first language guide for journalists. The joint project provides best practices, including a comprehensive list of recommended terms for describing people impacted by the criminal justice system, designed to support reporters, editors, and educators as they navigate the rapidly evolving crime and criminal justice media landscape. This guide offers a path forward for newsrooms implementing–and pushing beyond–the recommendations in the first-ever criminal justice chapter of the Associated Press Stylebook.

Entitled “People First Language Guide,” the publication is the latest installment in a series of research and reports by FWD.us and The Center for Just Journalism examining the news media’s influence on public opinion and public policy related to crime and the criminal justice system.

Zoë Towns, Executive Director of FWD.us, “Years of research and polling confirm criminal justice reforms are successful, voters support them, and the language we use has a real and direct impact on both legislation and the people closest to these efforts. It’s increasingly evident that narratives around public safety, crime, and justice will play an outsize role leading up to the presidential election in November and beyond. That is why we are committed to continue contributing to the critical work of ensuring more media outlets change their style guides to reject harmful criminal justice labels and provide guidance on how to use accurate, neutral language to describe people involved in the criminal justice system.”

Laura Bennett, Director of Center for Just Journalism, “The words we use in stories about the criminal justice system matter. For far too long, the news media has used unnecessary and dehumanizing labels to refer to people impacted by the criminal justice system, with lasting effects on public opinion and public policy. Directly impacted people have been demanding change for decades, and, with the help of projects like FWD.us’ People First research, more journalism institutions are beginning to reconsider their approach. We were heartened by the recommendations in the new AP Stylebook, and we hope that news outlets will find our People First Style Guide useful as they implement these long overdue changes.

The People First language guide provides specific recommendations for words to use in place of misleading, dehumanizing labels that are too frequently seen and heard in the media. Individuals impacted by the criminal justice system have long called on the press to stop using dangerous labels such as “felon.” Research shows that these terms are still far too common and bias news readers and viewers directly against impacted people and criminal justice reforms.

Important progress has been made since the launch of FWD.us’ People First project, and more change is on the horizon. Earlier this summer, the 57th Edition of the Associated Press Stylebook was published to include a new chapter on criminal justice reporting. This change has been years in the making, building off of the brave work from people directly impacted by incarceration, journalism organizations, as well as FWD.us’ own research on the harm caused by dehumanizing labels.

The language guide is a robust resource that will support journalists in implementing these critical changes.

Check out the full People First Language Guide HERE.

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