The Associated Press Monday released new guidelines for referencing the "alt-right," which ask that journalists use the term alongside its definition and in context of its association with racist beliefs.

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The new guidelines read:

"'Alt-right' (quotation marks, hyphen and lower case) may be used in quotes or modified as in the 'self-described' or 'so-called alt-right' in stories discussing what the movement says about itself. Avoid using the term generically and without definition, however, because it is not well known and the term may exist primarily as a public-relations device to make its supporters' actual beliefs less clear and more acceptable to a broader audience."

The new guidelines come after criticism of media outlets by some observers who view the term has having "normalized" President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE's nationalistic rhetoric and that of some Trump supporters. Specifically, many object to the term's use alongside senior adviser Stephen Bannon, whose hiring was applauded by neo-Nazi and KKK groups.

Bannon has described Breitbart News, his former outlet, as "the platform of the alt-right."

The new reference went on to say that, "in the past (The AP) have called such beliefs racist, neo-Nazi or white supremacist."

The AP is a nonprofit news agency and its AP Stylebook standardizes reporting styles such as grammar, punctuation and principles of reporting across the U.S.