Sir, – The director of news at Al Jazeera English, Salah Negm, has decided the news network will no longer use the word “migrant” in the context of the desperate human beings fleeing conflict for Europe.
Instead "where appropriate" Al Jazeera will say "refugee". It is time for The Irish Times to take a similar stance. In shaping the debate about what to do in this crisis, the media has a responsibility to convey the victims of this crisis in a fair and balanced way. An overwhelming majority of those fleeing to Europe are doing so due to conflict, therefore refugee is a much more accurate term.
In doing so, this step would help more of our own citizens see these people for what they are, fellow human beings.
– Yours, etc,
ROSS McCARTHY
Christchurch,
Dublin 8.