The Commission on Journalistic Ethics recommended that Ukrainian media stop using the words “orcs” and “rusnya”

The Commission on Journalistic Ethics is drafting guidelines on the use of emotionally charged words in the media and advises against using terms like “rusnya” and “orcs” in reference to the enemy. This follows an appeal to the body from journalists who want to know where the line lies between emotion and professionalism.

This was reported by Lina Kushch, First Secretary of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and a member of the commission, during the webinar “Hate Speech as a Risk Factor: Definition, Identification, Criteria, Consequences.”

According to Kushch, journalists should remain neutral if they want international partners to take their texts seriously. Moreover, people are unlikely to search for materials about Ukraine using the term “orcs,” but rather with queries like “war crimes of the Russian Federation.”

“A journalist doesn’t hurl curses at Russia, but simply describes in detail what they see… We should write as prescribed by the rules of language and international documents,” she believes.

As a reminder, in the spring the National Council of Ukraine for Television and Radio Broadcasting posted on its website a recommendation not to call Russian soldiers “orcs,” “chmoni,” or “rusnya,” but later removed it.