"British" Broadcasting Corporation - the spin and the reality

Andrew Sullivan notes that the spin from the BBC regarding the use of the word terrorism has begun:

Here's the spin today:

Then there has been a controversy about our use of language - particularly the question of whether the BBC banned the word "terrorist". There is no ban. It's true the word is contentious in some contexts on our international services, hence the recommendation that it be employed with care. But we have used and will continue to use the words terror, terrorism and terrorist - as we did in all our flagship bulletins from Thursday.

He then goes on to distinguish between the spin and the reality. Well, at the time of going to press here is a little more reality from the front of the BBC news page:

Subtle, but there. Yes, I am pointing to the use of quotes around the word. Yes, I know they would argue that they were quoting something the French president said. No, I don't think that is the reason why they used the quotes.

And a few minutes later it's changed:

Much better. That's the problem with having crappy guidelines though. People tend to follow them. I look forward to the BBC using the correct terminology when reporting on the terrorist activities in the Middle East.

I preferred the jets in the first picture.

Posted by John at July 14, 2005 02:05 PM | TrackBack