Hate Speech in the Media

By: Cassidy Voase
cv770715@ohio.edu

Hate Speech History: Past, Present and Future 

Hate speech is defined as "abusive or threatening speech or writing that expresses prejudice against a particular group, especially on the basis of race, religion, or sexual orientation." The idea of hate speech, while originating in groups such as the Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan, has been around for ages. In fact, it could be argued that hate speech is just as prevalent of an issue in today's society as it was back in Hitler's time. With a tense political climate whose people of power express both open and discreetly veiled racist, homophobic and sexist comments and views, we as media and news consumers are constantly exposed to just how controversial these examples of hate speech can be. Whether it's a seemingly innocuous comment made toward a black man, a shooting at a gay nightclub or a bombing of a Jewish synagogue, hate speech comes in many shapes and forms in today's society.


So What's the Difference Now?

Perhaps the most obvious difference between hate speech of the past and that of today is technology. As technological advances have been made in computers, phones, laptops and tablets throughout the years, it has become increasingly easier for hate speech to be spread across global platforms such as blogs and social media. Technology and social media feed into hate speech and offer those who participate in it a wider sounding board to voice their opinions. Furthermore, these people are then able to easily come across likeminded individuals who share the same ideologies and therefore further fuel the fire of hate speech. This article highlights the extreme reach that social media can have in feeding into hate speech, and offers insight into just how easy it is to practice hate speech with not much more than a few clicks of a computer button.

Some discussion posts, blogs and chat rooms are created specifically as a means to further discuss such hate speech, which obviously wasn't possible back in the days where computers and technology didn't exist. These platforms allow for open discussion and provide a niche space for those looking to engage in targeted hate speech.

The below image highlights an example in which an individual posted hate speech on Twitter for people to see and further engage with. The tweet was composed in what was probably less than a minute and was sent out for the world to see in even less time than that.

What Can Journalists Do?

As journalists, we must be extra careful and word choice, audio and visuals when reporting on sensitive hate speech content. It's imperative to stay neutral in language and simply report the facts of the story as it unfolds and not as the ways in which we as individuals might view it. This includes not incorporating any political, religious, gender or other bias. When reporting on these topics, terms used to describe subjects is crucial in maintaining an ethical report and in not offending any party. In terms of visuals and audio, censoring may be implemented in some cases in which vulgar or obscene language or imagery is used in order to protect the public audience from further exposure to such sensitive content.