The BBC publishes its guidelines for language in coverage of the Mideast (yes, you already know they don’t like the word “terrorist”). Simon Wilson writes about it on the BBC Editors’ blog:
Although initially a little sceptical, the more I think about it, the happier I am that we are publishing this guide to the public. BBC journalists, whether they are in Israel, the Palestinian Territories or London, put an enormous amount of thought and effort into trying to get these things right. And if this shows just a glimpse of that to the people we are reporting to, it may prove a very useful exercise.
The BBC has been doing this for a while
George Orwell wrote in 1944:
If only American news organizations were so thoughtful and so careful in their work. Do you think they agonize in the same way over stuff like this at Fox or Good Morning America?
@ Michael,
Sarcasm….right?
Meanwhile, they try to hide the truth–that they are biased.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/15/nbeeb15.xml
Publicly funded organisations like the BBC should assume their job is to be open.
However I understand the downside of revealing all. Should a reporter choose to deviate from guidelines to improve the way they communicate with the audience it may invite a maelstrom of criticism which is hard to defend.
Prescribed language tends to become meaningless.
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