How One Word Can Change Everything: Media Language & Immigration
How One Word Can Change Everything: Media Language & Immigration What if one single word could change how millions of people see immigrants? Media language isn’t just about vocabulary , it shapes emotions, beliefs, and even political opinions. When the news calls someone an “illegal immigrant” instead of an “undocumented immigrant,” the message completely changes. The word illegal sounds criminal and dangerous. Undocumented sounds like a paperwork issue. Same person. Totally different reaction. And right now, with the economy feeling unstable and stress levels already high, immigration has become an even more sensitive topic. The words people hear every day from the media can easily push them toward fear, sympathy, anger, or support often without them realizing it. According to the ACLU (2024), the media often frames immigration in negative and oversimplified ways. Instead of showing the full reality, stories are reduced ...