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AP Standards Center issues staff advisory on covering New York City mosque
Associated Press Deputy Managing Editor for Standards and Production Tom Kent sent the following note to the staff about covering the New York City mosque story and then discussed the guidance and reaction in a Facebook entry headlined "Behind the News: Describing the proposed NYC mosque."
Aug. 19, 2010
Colleagues,
Here is some guidance on covering the NYC mosque story, with assists from Chad Roedemeier in the NYC bureau and Terry Hunt in Washington:
1. We should continue to avoid the phrase "ground zero mosque" or "mosque at ground zero" on all platforms. (We've very rarely used this wording, except in slugs, though we sometimes see other news sources using the term.) The site of the proposed Islamic center and mosque is not at ground zero, but two blocks away in a busy commercial area. We should continue to say it's "near" ground zero, or two blocks away.
WE WILL CHANGE OUR SLUG ON THIS STORY LATER TODAY from "BC-Ground Zero Mosque" to "BC-NYC 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
_ mosque near WTC site
We can refer to the project as a mosque, or as a proposed Islamic center that includes a mosque.
It may be useful in some stories to note that Muslim prayer services have been held since 2009 in the building that the new project will replace. The proposal is to create a new, larger Islamic community center that would include a mosque, a swimming pool, gym, auditorium and other facilities.
2. Here is a succinct summary of President Obama's position:
Obama has said he believes Muslims have the right to build an Islamic center in New York as a matter of religious freedom, though he's also said he won't take a position on whether they should actually build it.
For additional background, you'll find below a Fact Check on the project that moved yesterday.
Tom
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This "Fact Check" included is available through the web. Upon reading this "Fact Check" you will discover this is several pages of slippery semantics, deceit, Islam ass kissing and most of all, this "Fact Check" is actually a long rant by Tom Kent against Republicans, conservatives and Jews. Kent simply goes off on an insane rage of anti-Semitic remarks and an abhorrent misogynic rant about Sarah Palin.
There is some comedy from Tom, he alternates between performing oral sex upon Imam Rauf and performing oral sex upon Barack Obama. Messy busy but Tom Kent is a loving mouthpiece for Islamic terrorism and a loving mouthpiece for Obama style socialism.
Most ironic and highly comical, is this dumb ass boy, Tom Kent, states, "We should continue to avoid the phrase "ground zero mosque" or "mosque at ground zero"...."
Imam Rauf coined this phrase, "Ground Zero Mosque". This supporter of Islamic terrorism, Imam Rauf, is the developer of this Ground Zero Mosque as a victory shrine honoring the most horrific attacks upon and acts of terrorism against our America.
Imam Rauf coins "Ground Zero Mosque", Tom Kent orders his reporters to not use this expression to protect Islam.
I would enjoy asking Tom Kent why Associated Press is now Allah Press, but the boy's mouth is constantly too full for him to talk.
AP Standards Center staff advisory: Associated Press is now named Allah Press.
