News Media Critique 
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/09/24/california-lawmakers-move-to-shield-illegal-immigrants-from-deportation/

Fox News.com article by William La Jeunesse titled, “California Lawmakers Move to Shield Illegal Immigrants from Deportation” violates the “Fairness” yardstick of journalism. 

The article explains that the state of California will soon decide if it will enact “The Trust Act” bill which will allow state police to protect innocent illegal immigrants from being automatically deported if they are charged with (but not convicted of) misdemeanor crimes.

The reporter uses only one side of this story and uses inflammatory quotes to describe the situation.  In the opening paragraph, instead of being called the “Trust Act”, the journalist describes it as the “So-called Trust Act” which causes the reader to interpret that maybe “Trust” is not involved…only “so-called Trust”. 

There is only one sentence allowed for the proponents’ point of view, saying that “…the bill applies to illegal immigrants arrested for minor crimes.”

However, the majority of the article quotes those individuals who are opposed to this bill, and it uses the quotes that seem very disturbing without giving the other side of the argument.  The former Immigration Customs Enforcement Director Julie Myers Wood is quoted as saying, “…the proposed law applies to those convicted of child abuse and assault…and the system could allow dangerous criminals to re-offend.”  She is also quoted as saying, “You’re going to have a high likelihood of individuals who pose a significant public safety risk who are released into the community…”  These quotes could cause irrational reactions from the readers.

If FoxNews.com were being “Fair and Balanced”, the journalist should have interviewed an individual from California’s Hispanic community or people and lawmakers who support the bill.  It also would have been interesting to hear from Gov. Jerry Brown.  The Governor will sign or veto the bill on October 16.  Until then, the subject of immigration will be a hot topic, and hopefully the media will not violate the principles and yardsticks of journalism when they report on this important issue.