22/02/2013 Newswatch

Pistorius story has dominated the Pistorius story has dominated the

Pistorius story has dominated the news bulletins. Some viewers feel

news bulletins. Some viewers feel news bulletins. Some viewers feel

it has been excessive. Also there it has been excessive. Also there

it has been excessive. Also there is a debate between militants and

is a debate between militants and is a debate between militants and

terrorists. Hello and welcome to terrorists. Hello and welcome to

terrorists. Hello and welcome to Newswatch. Coming up - the bail

Newswatch. Coming up - the bail Newswatch. Coming up - the bail

hearing of Oscar Pistorius has hearing of Oscar Pistorius has

hearing of Oscar Pistorius has dominated the news, but has the

dominated the news, but has the story been given unnecessary

story been given unnecessary story been given unnecessary

dominance. is Kate Middleton a dominance. is Kate Middleton a

plastic princess? Also the plastic princess? Also the

plastic princess? Also the difference between eight have a

difference between eight have a difference between eight have a

difference between eight have a taste -- between a terrorist and a

taste -- between a terrorist and a taste -- between a terrorist and a

militant. Not since the OJ Simpson militant. Not since the OJ Simpson

militant. Not since the OJ Simpson trial and has a crime story

trial and has a crime story trial and has a crime story

dominated the news. The South dominated the news. The South

dominated the news. The South African sport stock Oscar Pistorius

African sport stock Oscar Pistorius African sport stock Oscar Pistorius

African sport stock Oscar Pistorius sobs as he admits to shooting his

sobs as he admits to shooting his sobs as he admits to shooting his

sobs as he admits to shooting his girlfriends, who it he bought was a

girlfriends, who it he bought was a girlfriends, who it he bought was a

burglar. The murder of Oscar burglar. The murder of Oscar

Pistorius's girlfriend Zoe Gillings Pistorius's girlfriend Zoe Gillings

Pistorius's girlfriend Zoe Gillings brings with it a combination of

There has been mystery over were There has been mystery over were

There has been mystery over were We put all these comments to the

We put all these comments to the We put all these comments to the

We put all these comments to the editor of the news channel. This is

To let us know your thoughts on To let us know your thoughts on

To let us know your thoughts on To let us know your thoughts on

that or on any other aspect of BBC that or on any other aspect of BBC

that or on any other aspect of BBC that or on any other aspect of BBC

News. Details on how to contact us News. Details on how to contact us

News. Details on how to contact us News. Details on how to contact us

at the end of the programme. Now, at the end of the programme. Now,

at the end of the programme. Now, your other concerns. A strike by

your other concerns. A strike by your other concerns. A strike by

BBC journalists took the BBC BBC journalists took the BBC

BBC journalists took the BBC Breakfast News off their air and

Breakfast News off their air and Breakfast News off their air and

the main bulletins were presented the main bulletins were presented

the main bulletins were presented by some less familiar faces. The

by some less familiar faces. The by some less familiar faces. The

action by the National Union of action by the National Union of

action by the National Union of journalists was against the threat

journalists was against the threat journalists was against the threat

of compulsory redundancies in BBC of compulsory redundancies in BBC

Newsroom. Some people however Newsroom. Some people however

Newsroom. Some people however prefer the new look. -- preferred

prefer the new look. -- preferred A party at must there?! We have no

A party at must there?! We have no A party at must there?! We have no

such thing on Newswatch, of course. such thing on Newswatch, of course.

such thing on Newswatch, of course. The comments made by a prominent

The comments made by a prominent The comments made by a prominent

writer about the Princess of writer about the Princess of

writer about the Princess of Cambridge has been given prominence.

Cambridge has been given prominence. Cambridge has been given prominence.

Cambridge has been given prominence. Here is an extract of what she said.

Here is an extract of what she said. Here is an extract of what she said.

Kate Middleton seems to have been Kate Middleton seems to have been

Kate Middleton seems to have been elected by committee and built by

elected by committee and built by elected by committee and built by

craftsmen, with the perfect plastic craftsmen, with the perfect plastic

craftsmen, with the perfect plastic smile and be spindly limbs

smile and be spindly limbs smile and be spindly limbs

varnished. Some he was filled the varnished. Some he was filled the

varnished. Some he was filled the comments were taken out of context

comments were taken out of context comments were taken out of context

comments were taken out of context and is reported. It is believed the

and is reported. It is believed the and is reported. It is believed the

And finally, to add insult to And finally, to add insult to

And finally, to add insult to injury, have you are in Scotland

injury, have you are in Scotland injury, have you are in Scotland

notice that the word touchers was notice that the word touchers was

notice that the word touchers was notice that the word touchers was

voted -- the word Duchess was spelt voted -- the word Duchess was spelt

voted -- the word Duchess was spelt incorrectly. Now, what is the

incorrectly. Now, what is the incorrectly. Now, what is the

difference between a militant and difference between a militant and

difference between a militant and terrorist and in what circumstances

terrorist and in what circumstances terrorist and in what circumstances

terrorist and in what circumstances should the work is a must be used?

should the work is a must be used? should the work is a must be used?

Recent unrest has highlighted this Recent unrest has highlighted this

Recent unrest has highlighted this terminology. This week a French

terminology. This week a French terminology. This week a French

family was kidnapped in Cameroon family was kidnapped in Cameroon

family was kidnapped in Cameroon family was kidnapped in Cameroon

and it was reported they were taken and it was reported they were taken

by an Islamist group. by an Islamist group.

by an Islamist group. Thousands of African troops are on

Thousands of African troops are on Thousands of African troops are on

their way to help, but clearing their way to help, but clearing

their way to help, but clearing their way to help, but clearing

towns of militants is the easy bit. towns of militants is the easy bit.

towns of militants is the easy bit. Tracking them down in these deserts

Tracking them down in these deserts will be more typical.

will be more typical. will be more typical.

All these descriptions are highly All these descriptions are highly

All these descriptions are highly charged and some see was believe

charged and some see was believe charged and some see was believe

they are being misused. What has they are being misused. What has

they are being misused. What has been your concern about how the

been your concern about how the been your concern about how the

words militants and terrorists are words militants and terrorists are

words militants and terrorists are words militants and terrorists are

being used. In the first came to my being used. In the first came to my

being used. In the first came to my attention over at the hostage

attention over at the hostage attention over at the hostage

attention over at the hostage crisis in Algeria at the gas plant.

crisis in Algeria at the gas plant. crisis in Algeria at the gas plant.

crisis in Algeria at the gas plant. It was said that the captors were

It was said that the captors were militants. What further exacerbated

militants. What further exacerbated militants. What further exacerbated

my concerns were the comments from my concerns were the comments from

my concerns were the comments from my concerns were the comments from

President Obama on the B B C News President Obama on the B B C News

President Obama on the B B C News website. What was your experience?

website. What was your experience? website. What was your experience?

website. What was your experience? They were described by a lot of

They were described by a lot of They were described by a lot of

people as terrorists. A finger was people as terrorists. A finger was

people as terrorists. A finger was incorrect. -- I think it was

incorrect. -- I think it was incorrect. -- I think it was

incorrect. The BBC so, we have incorrect. The BBC so, we have

incorrect. The BBC so, we have guidelines on the context of the

guidelines on the context of the guidelines on the context of the

guidelines on the context of the story. It could be argued that to

story. It could be argued that to story. It could be argued that to

story. It could be argued that to go into news and use language as a

go into news and use language as a politician could be dangerous.

politician could be dangerous. politician could be dangerous.

Perhaps the situation is more Perhaps the situation is more

Perhaps the situation is more complex. I understand there are a

complex. I understand there are a complex. I understand there are a

situations where the government may situations where the government may

situations where the government may use the word terrorist because it

use the word terrorist because it use the word terrorist because it

use the word terrorist because it is the way it of them positioning

is the way it of them positioning is the way it of them positioning

and billet Lane proposition that and billet Lane proposition that

and billet Lane proposition that and billet Lane proposition that

they face, but there should not be they face, but there should not be

they face, but there should not be they face, but there should not be

that difficult problem. If we had a that difficult problem. If we had a

that difficult problem. If we had a that difficult problem. If we had a

9/11 or 7/7 incident, would it be 9/11 or 7/7 incident, would it be

9/11 or 7/7 incident, would it be described as the work of militants?

described as the work of militants? described as the work of militants?

described as the work of militants? Both of you will remember covers of

Both of you will remember covers of Both of you will remember covers of

the IRA atrocities and the word the IRA atrocities and the word

the IRA atrocities and the word terrorist was always used, but in

terrorist was always used, but in terrorist was always used, but in

terrorist was always used, but in the case of toll, when we don't

the case of toll, when we don't the case of toll, when we don't

the case of toll, when we don't know the full story, can you not

know the full story, can you not know the full story, can you not

understand why they are being understand why they are being

understand why they are being understand why they are being

cautious? -- at the case of marley Al-Qaeda is a worldwide

Al-Qaeda is a worldwide Al-Qaeda is a worldwide

organisation and has caused a lot organisation and has caused a lot

organisation and has caused a lot of destruction and they should be

of destruction and they should be of destruction and they should be

labelled terrorists. It is in labelled terrorists. It is in

labelled terrorists. It is in dispute, up what Al-Qaeda it does.

dispute, up what Al-Qaeda it does. dispute, up what Al-Qaeda it does.

You can see the BBC's difficulty. You can see the BBC's difficulty.

You can see the BBC's difficulty. You can see the BBC's difficulty.

If they use the same word as If they use the same word as

If they use the same word as President Obama or David Cameron,

President Obama or David Cameron, President Obama or David Cameron,

that would cause greater difficulty that would cause greater difficulty

that would cause greater difficulty that would cause greater difficulty

for them down the line than if they for them down the line than if they

for them down the line than if they perhaps use a more cautious word.

perhaps use a more cautious word. perhaps use a more cautious word.

perhaps use a more cautious word. Is there a case to accept it might

Is there a case to accept it might Is there a case to accept it might

Is there a case to accept it might be suitable for now, but perhaps it

be suitable for now, but perhaps it be suitable for now, but perhaps it

be suitable for now, but perhaps it might need to be changed over time?

might need to be changed over time? might need to be changed over time?

Then is to be clearer thinking Then is to be clearer thinking

Then is to be clearer thinking Then is to be clearer thinking

about it. In my view, they have about it. In my view, they have

about it. In my view, they have about it. In my view, they have

swung too far to one end of the swung too far to one end of the

swung too far to one end of the spectrum in saying that the word

spectrum in saying that the word spectrum in saying that the word

terrorist is almost excluded from terrorist is almost excluded from

terrorist is almost excluded from Our vocabulary unless it refers to

Our vocabulary unless it refers to Our vocabulary unless it refers to

a political leader. I still think a political leader. I still think

a political leader. I still think a political leader. I still think

the use of the word terrorist is the use of the word terrorist is

the use of the word terrorist is needed in absolutes situations. The

needed in absolutes situations. The needed in absolutes situations. The

needed in absolutes situations. The BBC should not shy away from using

BBC should not shy away from using BBC should not shy away from using

BBC should not shy away from using that word. Thank you for all your

that word. Thank you for all your that word. Thank you for all your

that word. Thank you for all your comments this week. You can call us

comments this week. You can call us comments this week. You can call us

or e-mail us with your comments. or e-mail us with your comments.