BBC Throws a Crumb
Earlier we reported that the BBC is refusing to make public the contents of a report believed to be highly critical of the outlet’s Mideast coverage. It’s worth noting that the BBC has released an abbreviated version of its guide to facts and terminology.
Our reaction to these definitions is mixed. An obvious problem is the guideline for the term “terrorist”:
Note the BBC producer guidelines which state: “We must report acts of terror quickly, accurately, fully and responsibly. We should not adopt other people’s language as our own. Our credibility is undermined by the careless use of words which carry emotional or value judgements. The word “terrorist” itself can be a barrier rather than an aid to understanding. We should try to avoid the term, without attribution. It is also usually inappropriate to use words like “liberate”, “court martial” or “execute” in the absence of a clear judicial process. We should let other people characterise while we report the facts as we know them. We should convey to our audience the full consequences of the act by describing what happened. We should use words which specifically describe the perpetrator such as “bomber”, “attacker”, “gunmen”, “kidnapper”, “insurgent” or “militant.””
Why is “terrorist” a barrier to understanding while “militant” is not? Indeed, in many cases, especially those concerning perpetrators who deliberately attack innocent civilians, “terrorist” is more factually accurate than “militant.”
Share your comments on the rest of the BBC guidelines.
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