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Podcasts Take Two
The debate over the term 'illegal immigrant'
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Aug 7, 2015
Listen • 5:12
The debate over the term 'illegal immigrant'
How do you describe a person who's living in the country illegally? Different news organizations have different standards that have changed over time.
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 24: Activists protest for the release of families held in detention centers in Texas and for the closing of the family detention centers on March 24, 2015 in New York City. The protesters rallied outside the Jacob K Javits Federal building, where immigration offices are located. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Activists protest for the release of families held in detention centers in Texas and for the closing of the family detention centers on March 24, 2015 in New York City. The protesters rallied outside the Jacob K Javits Federal building, where immigration offices are located.
(
Andrew Burton/Getty Images
)

How do you describe a person who's living in the country illegally? Different news organizations have different standards that have changed over time.

How do you describe a person who's living in the country illegally? "Undocumented immigrant"? "Illegal alien"? "Illegal immigrant"?

Different news organizations have different standards that have changed over time.

It's not a new debate, but a recent New Yorker article by Jeffrey Toobin that used the term "illegal immigrant" renewed the conversation.

Aly Colón, John S. and James L. Knight Chair in Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University,  joins Take Two for a conversation about how journalists choose their words, and why it matters.

To hear the full interview, click the link above.