This week The Irish Times published a piece on the "Alt-right glossary of terms" by an Ireland-based American hack. (I will not be linking out to the piece from this website. Sorry.) The article is full of racist and misogynistic rhetoric that, tonally, felt far too sympathetic to the American white nationalist movement comically being referred to as the "alt-right".
After coming under heavy fire, the Times' opinion editor wrote a follow-up piece justifying why they chose to run the article in the first place. While it's true, controversial and thought provoking opinions should always be offered as an alternative to lateral thinking, publishing actual nazi propaganda for the purpose of "representing differing viewpoints" is dangerous and unethical.
We've spent the last year or so grappling with the rise of dangerous nativism all across the west; we've had to have conversations with ourselves about what it means to"normalize" someone like Trump; we've also had the exhaustive debate over whether to humor the "alt-right" by calling them the "alt-right" or if we should just call them neo-nazis (probably the latter, to be honest).
Good journalism is the frontline defense of any strong democracy. Good journalism forces light into the darkest, most corrupt pockets of society. Good journalism can heal the ills caused by bad governance. Bad journalism does just the opposite.
Right now, Ireland, unlike its European neighbours, does not find itself grappling with any substantial fascist/nationalist movement. But we know fascism is a disease that easily spreads from democracy to democracy. By introducing something as "harmless" as an "alt-right glossary of terms" you lend legitimacy to a movement that has rebranded itself as a modern offshoot of garden variety nazism.
There are so many talented, smart, and thorough journalists who could more meaningfully discuss the "alt right" movement in a way that doesn't glorify or justify dangerous ideology. The editorial carelessness and boldness of offering fascism not only an audience, but a pedestal on which to proudly display this brand of dog whistle "journalism" is beyond the pale (so to speak).
If you want a piece on the "alt right", fine. It's topical, newsworthy, and something we should all be able to speak proficiently on. But do us all a favor. Hire journalists. Hire women. Hire people of colour. Get people who will call it white nationalism, talk about it in the context of history, and highlight the perverse nature of advocating protectionist candidates openly in bed with the Russian government.
If you're not sure how to find journalists who can help readers engage in meaningful dialogue about an important topic like the "alt right", then log on to www.twitter.com and strike up a conversation with the hundreds of freelance writers talking every day about this same subject. Don't wait for some hack to send you an already written glossary of racist terms. Get your brain cells together and be a proper journalist.
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