“People feel that we are taking jobs from people — that we are leeching on the government when, in fact, we pay taxes. I pay taxes. A lot of the money from my paycheck goes into social security and a lot of other benefits that I don’t qualify for.” – America Arias, Freelance Producer for ABC Los Angeles & Undocumented Immigrant. Photo by Elena Marie Piech
The Trump administration’s attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program impacts approximately 800,000 undocumented people in the U.S. but it’s also a threat for journalists who are also undocumented.
Journalists need to be mindful and aware of who they’re talking to and how they’re talking to them. It’s also crucial to address the economic impact when it comes to working with immigrant communities.
For this episode of Pressing Issues, three reporters share their thoughts on covering immigration from avoiding misconceptions to the risks involved in working with undocumented sources.
The slew of unknowns is risky for both undocumented people and reporters. So when it comes to reporting on undocumented communities — it’s a tricky subject.
Tagged under: 2017, Excellence in Journalism, Immigration, anaheim, eij news, pressing issues, undocumented