AP Tells Reporters: Avoid 'Ground Zero Mosque'

News organization issues guidelines on project
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 19, 2010 5:00 PM CDT
AP Tells Reporters: Avoid 'Ground Zero Mosque'
A pedestrian stops to shake a protester's hand in front of the site of a proposed Islamic center in mosque in New York.   (u)

The Associated Press has issued guidelines for its reporters and headline writers regarding a certain proposed development near ground zero. Full memo here, or for highlights:

  • "We should continue to avoid the phrase 'ground zero mosque' or 'mosque at ground zero' on all platforms." Instead, "say it’s 'near' ground zero, or two blocks away."
  • "We can refer to the project as a mosque, or as a proposed Islamic center that includes a mosque."

  • "In short headlines, some ways to refer to the project include: 'mosque 2 blocks from WTC site,' 'Muslim (or Islamic) center near WTC site,' 'mosque near ground zero,' and 'mosque near WTC site.'"
As a reminder to staff, AP is changing its own internal story slugs from "Ground Zero Mosque" to "NYC Mosque." Bah, says Michelle Malkin, who calls the style memo "a re-tread of a pro-mosque talking points memo."
(More Ground Zero mosque stories.)

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