To: MSNBC, CNN, FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS
We demand accurate, unbiased coverage of the president's executive action on immigration
Major television networks, like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, MSNBC and CNN, have a great deal of influence on public policy. That's why we respectfully ask that your coverage of the President's executive action on immigration accurately portrays the true focus of the announcement.
We ask that you refrain from using inflammatory footage that perpetuates harmful stereotypes. President Obama's action is about hard working people who having been living and working in the United States for years. To portray them in simple stereo types is dishonest.
We ask that you rely on footage and images of those who are directly affected and eligible for the new executive action – including personal stories, testimonials and footage of recent peaceful actions and rallies.
Why is this important?
On Thursday, the President announced a long-awaited executive action that will take steps towards fixing our broken immigration system.
Eligibility for the executive action is limited to immigrants with roots in and family ties to the United States—specifically, undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. for at least the past five years and also are parents of U.S. citizens or green card holders.
This action is a step in the right direction, and it's critical that the media takes a fair and balanced approach in their coverage.
Showing inflammatory footage that perpetuates harmful stereotypes will do nothing to advance the current story, and will only feed right-wing fear-mongering on the issue. President Obama's action is about hard working people who having been living and working in the United States for years. To portray them in simple stereo types is dishonest.
Its critical that the major television networks take a fair and balanced approach to covering this issue by featuring real stories of those most impacted.