Our work as journalists and professional communicators is to understand the power of words and to use them appropriately. As many of you may be aware, on Monday, a Fox 8 anchor used a culturally abhorrent word during a live broadcast on the morning show.
We understand the challenges of live TV, but we also recognize the greater imperative of being culturally competent communicators. We believe the following lessons must be drawn from Monday's unfortunate broadcast:
1) Understand that words can uplift and enlighten, but they can also disparage and wound.
2) Don't use words with meanings you don't know or fully understand.
3) If you err, take accountability immediately.
4) Make amends with future statements and programming.
