Fatal Vision
By Callimachus | Related entries in Bad Decisions, Media, The War On Terrorism“Is this a terrorist I see before me?” BBC looked at the carnage in London on July 7 and thought so, then it reconsidered.
Britain’s national broadcaster re-edited some of its online coverage of last Thursday’s London bombings to remove references to “terrorists” and related words, after earlier appearing to have set aside its policy of not using the terms.
In the hours following the attacks, observers noted that the BBC had referred to “terrorists” and “terror” in stories on its BBC News website, despite editorial guidelines telling staff to avoid the term.
But at some point, editors began reining in.
The evidence can be seen in a simple Google News search: Google reflects the original wording of a story headline and text excerpts, even if that story on the linked news website is later changed.
The Beeb’s editorial guideline on “terror” is here. Key passage:
We must report acts of terror quickly, accurately, fully and responsibly. 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. We should let other people characterise while we report the facts as we know them.
According to the British media site “Media Bulletin,” “staff at the BBC were reminded in an email sent on Thursday morning that they should use the word ‘bomber’ instead [of terrorist].”
Conservatives routinely make hay of policy like this. If fanatic monotheist suicide bombers splattering the blood of innocents on subway tunnels and public buildings to make a political point isn’t terrorism, pray, what is?
Even Roger Mosey, head of BBC Television News, has no compunction about calling it terrorism in a newspaper column he wrote.
Alas for the BBC. We all know what happens to those who forget the past. What becomes of those who forget the present?
I see thee still,
And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,
Which was not so before. There’s no such thing:
It is the bloody business which informs
Thus to mine eyes.
