What We Call a Story Matters

How a Single Word Like "Manifesto" Shapes Public Perception—and Why It’s Time to Challenge the Narrative

Just as the photos editors choose to accompany their news stories, the words they choose to describe elements of those stories color public perception.

This past couple of weeks, Luigi Mangione’s diary entries got tagged with the Big M by most major media outlets. Yes, friends. It was a… Manifesto! Manifesto. A word so darkly provocative it practically demands a sinister soundtrack. But why? Why not “essays,” “thoughts,” or “reflections”? Because Manifesto has a vibe the ruling class likes for people who target the capitalist status quo. A manifesto means crazy. It means danger. It means the media have decided who you are before you’ve had a chance to say anything at all.

Manifesto—The Scarlet Letter of Words

The word “manifesto” comes from the Latin manifestus, meaning “to make public.” Harmless origins, really, but boy, has it taken on a life of its own. It’s been the rallying cry of revolutionaries (Marx! Lenin!) and the moniker of maniacs (you know who). It doesn’t just describe; it brands.

By calling Mangione’s diary writings a manifesto, the media don’t just report—they color, they shade, they twist. It’s the linguistic equivalent of a judge smacking down a gavel before the trial even begins. Painting Mangione as a crazed outsider is intentional. And in a nation where one is presumed innocent until proven guilty, it gently toes the line of illegality.

Robin Hood or Radical?

The irony, of course, is that plenty of folks—nearly half the American public according to polls—see Mangione as a modern-day Robin Hood. You know the type—stickin’ it to The Man, fighting for the downtrodden. But the corporate news media aren’t writing stories for them. If they were, they’d reframe his writing as—what? A philosophy, a vision, a letter to society. Heck, let’s get creative: The Mangione Chronicles. You see where I’m going with this.

But no. It’s a manifesto. They’ve taken sides with a label that seeks to shuts down curiosity and makes us fear the writer before we understand the words.

Yours Truly: The Screed Machine

I’ve been there, too. Written a fiery essay on race? Screed. Made a passionate case for equality? Diatribe. Suddenly, I’m not just a writer—I’m “angry,” “shrill,” “unhinged.” Convenient, isn’t it? The establishment doesn’t like your message? Easy fix: slap it with a label that makes the messenger look nuts.

This tactic has been around forever. It’s not about accuracy; it’s about control. Who decides what a person’s writing gets called? Spoiler: it’s not usually the writer. It’s the powers-that-be—the media gatekeepers, the narrative spinners, the ones holding the big, red Manifesto! stamp.

A Call to Action (Or Maybe Just a Better Word)

Listen. Media literacy isn’t just a buzz phrase. It’s a survival skill. When you see a word like manifesto, don’t blindly accept it. Ask yourself: Who benefits from this framing? What story are they really trying to sell?

Maybe Mangione’s writings aren’t a manifesto at all. Maybe they’re musings, reflections, or letters from the edge. Heck, call them Mangione’s Marvelous Meditations for all I care. The point is, words matter. And when those words are weaponized against the powerless, it’s our job to call it out.

So, next time you’re flipping through the news, keep your eyes sharp, your mind sharper, and remember: what we call a story matters. Because at the end of the day, every word is a choice—and some choices are designed to keep the status quo in power.

Yours in linguistic rebellion,

Alisa