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Writing about the ‘alt-right’ (AP Style Guide)
AP Blog ^ | 11/28/16 | John Daniszewski

Posted on 11/29/2016 12:38:06 PM PST by markomalley

Recent developments have put the so-called “alt-right” movement in the news. They highlight the need for clarity around use of the term and around some related terms, such as “white nationalism” and “white supremacism.”

Let’s tackle them.

The “alt-right” or “alternative right” is a name currently embraced by some white supremacists and white nationalists to refer to themselves and their ideology, which emphasizes preserving and protecting the white race in the United States in addition to, or over, other traditional conservative positions such as limited government, low taxes and strict law-and-order.

The movement has been described as a mix of racism, white nationalism and populism.

Although many adherents backed President-elect Donald Trump in the recent election, Trump last week said he disavows and condemns the “alt-right.”

The movement criticizes “multiculturalism” and more rights for non-whites, women, Jews, Muslims, gays, immigrants and other minorities. Its members reject the American democratic ideal that all should have equality under the law regardless of creed, gender, ethnic origin or race.

Usage

“Alt-right” (quotation marks, hyphen and lower case) may be used in quotes or modified as in the “self-described” or “so-called alt-right” in stories discussing what the movement says about itself.

Avoid using the term generically and without definition, however, because it is not well known and the term may exist primarily as a public-relations device to make its supporters’ actual beliefs less clear and more acceptable to a broader audience. In the past we have called such beliefs racist, neo-Nazi or white supremacist.

Boilerplate

Again, whenever “alt-right” is used in a story, be sure to include a definition: “an offshoot of conservatism mixing racism, white nationalism and populism,” or, more simply, “a white nationalist movement.”

Here is an example from the AP news report:

With an ideology that’s a mix of racism, white nationalism and old-fashioned populism, the “alt-right” has burst into the collective consciousness since members showed up at the Republican National Convention to celebrate Trump’s nomination last summer.

Be specific and call it straight

Finally, when writing on extreme groups, be precise and provide evidence to support the characterization.

We should not limit ourselves to letting such groups define themselves, and instead should report their actions, associations, history and positions to reveal their actual beliefs and philosophy, as well as how others see them.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: altright; whitenationalists
I like that (/sarc): We should not limit ourselves to letting such groups define themselves…

My guess is that such a characterization applies to any group the left doesn't approve of, not just this one.

1 posted on 11/29/2016 12:38:06 PM PST by markomalley
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To: markomalley

Well, that’s 3 posts (including mine) on this in the past 15 minutes. LOL!


2 posted on 11/29/2016 12:41:52 PM PST by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?!)
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To: markomalley
So even if there was a group who called themselves Alt-Right, it's now mainly a slur used by the left to stick on any one they don't like.
Oh, the wonderful progressive tolerance and diversity...

3 posted on 11/29/2016 12:50:36 PM PST by BitWielder1 (I'd rather have Unequal Wealth than Equal Poverty.)
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To: markomalley
more rights for non-whites, women, Jews, Muslims, gays, immigrants and other minorities. Its members reject the American democratic ideal that all should have equality

Completely backwards.

The reason the "alt-right" even exists is because they are tired of the exceptional rights granted to minorities.

White males are the only institutionally discriminated group in the country now.

4 posted on 11/29/2016 12:59:51 PM PST by fruser1
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To: markomalley

This was AP word salad.

I have no clue what alt.right is or is not, and claims by AP are not helpful.

For now it just sounds like the bucket in the pig sty where the left can throw in anything they don’t like.


5 posted on 11/29/2016 1:24:02 PM PST by cgbg (Pedophiles--the siren is wailing--incoming!)
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To: markomalley

Keep in mind that this style guide comes from the downwardly-relevant (a term I just coined, BTW) AP, an outfit whose importance exists mostly in their own minds.


6 posted on 11/29/2016 1:28:09 PM PST by Redbob (W.W.J.B.D. - What Would Jack Bauer Do?)
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To: BitWielder1

The first rule of the alt-right is...


7 posted on 11/29/2016 1:32:41 PM PST by oblomov (We have passed the point where "law," properly speaking, has any further application. - C. Thomas)
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To: Redbob

“the downwardly-relevant (a term I just coined, BTW)”
==
Excellent coinage - goes in my dictionary.


8 posted on 11/29/2016 1:50:06 PM PST by LouieFisk
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To: markomalley; rktman; BitWielder1; fruser1; cgbg; Redbob; oblomov; LouieFisk
Ricky Vaughn of Gab.ai, and formerly of Twitter, speculates that Twitter is going to use the "alt-right" designation to purge Twitter of "undesirable" right-wing and conservative elements.

They've actually already started.

9 posted on 11/29/2016 2:07:24 PM PST by kiryandil (Will Hillary's BrownShirt Media thugs demand that The Deplorables all wear six-pointed Orange Stars?)
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To: markomalley

They invented it, I guess they get to define it. Nobody ever heard of alt-right until the leftist media started “exposing” it. Most people still haven’t heard of it.


10 posted on 11/29/2016 2:32:33 PM PST by ozzymandus
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To: markomalley

I’ve been on this forum for ages and I never heard anyone say “alt right” until hillary started screaming about this bugbear.

This is a full on lie by the press to smear people with opinions they do not like.

The attacks on breitbart and bannon are the some of the most ugly and malicious smears I’ve seen the press do, not even a hint of truth at all


11 posted on 11/29/2016 3:01:59 PM PST by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
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To: markomalley

Hey AP, what about the Control Left? Ctrl-Left

The people who love dictators like Fidel Castro.


12 posted on 11/29/2016 3:07:43 PM PST by FreeAtlanta (what a mess we got ourselves into)
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To: LouieFisk

You’re welcome!
:-)


13 posted on 11/29/2016 3:16:50 PM PST by Redbob (W.W.J.B.D. - What Would Jack Bauer Do?)
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To: FreeAtlanta

I like that expression too:

It’s so obvious when you think about it!

“Control-Left”
(do that on your keyboard...)


14 posted on 11/29/2016 3:18:52 PM PST by Redbob (W.W.J.B.D. - What Would Jack Bauer Do?)
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To: markomalley

15 posted on 11/29/2016 3:27:56 PM PST by Travis McGee (EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: Mount Athos

16 posted on 11/29/2016 3:29:15 PM PST by Travis McGee (EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: markomalley

Charter member of the malt-right.

17 posted on 11/29/2016 3:32:46 PM PST by x
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To: markomalley

The movement criticizes “multiculturalism” and more rights for non-whites, women, Jews, Muslims, gays, immigrants and other minorities. Its members reject the American democratic ideal that all should have equality under the law regardless of creed, gender, ethnic origin or race.


I am against the Left’s tribalism, divisions based on hate and scapegoating whites and men and their unequal rights based on race and religion. I’m alt-right.

I’m pro constitution in the concept of merit without regard to skin color or sexual organs and anti-left wing racism and sexism. I refuse to see others as skin and sex enemies.


18 posted on 12/05/2016 5:01:39 AM PST by SaraJohnson
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