27/09/2013 Newswatch

Yemeni. And was Labour conference coverage overshadowed by former

publicity of a former spin doctor Last weekend saw a terrorist attack

by Islamists which left scores of people dead. I'm talking about

Sunday's suicide bombs in Pakistan which killed at least 80 people

Sunday's suicide bombs in Pakistan you would be forgiven for thinking

I was talking about a four—day siege in a shopping mall in Nairobi.

The reporting of the Nairobi siege also attracted criticism for the

large the BBC used to describe the attackers. This person spoke for

A third complaint related to this interview featured on Monday's News

At Ten with relative of two of those people killed in the attack.

Family members in Leamington Spa gave this reaction tonight. They

We love them very much. We see him. gave this reaction tonight. They

and to do so I'm joined by the head of the BBC News room, Mary. First

of all, is there a BBC policy on calling the attackers of these

kinds of incidents militants and don't ban any particular words and

nor do we insist on any other words. What we do is ask our journalists

to think about the language they informative. And so listening and

reading and watching our coverage of the Kenna attack over several

days you would have heard all sorts of correspondents refer to what

indeed, the terrorists, so there is no sense we didn't use that word at

all. But we've heard complaints like this before. Going back to

Algeria, and many noticed that the word "insurgent" or "terrorist"

Algeria, and many noticed that the used and is there some kind of

policy. We ask the journalists it think about the language they use.

And sometimes terrorist is not the you're trying to explain the nature

of the attack, so you might be talking about the gunmen or the

context of the background. So there the word militants is useful in

context of the background. So there is use of many words and different

words with care and thought. In some stories, not necessarily this

one, but in stom stories, the word "terrorist" can be a very loaded

word for some audiences. Can you give me an example? It's an intense

judgments in the words we use. And and strong word and not one to be

judgments in the words we use. And we did use it. And equally, we use

a wider vocabulary as well. And we did use it. And equally, we use

a wider vocabulary as well. And doorsteping. Clearly that family

judgment? I wouldn't call it a case of us knocking on a door. Let

me explain. They were comeing up to camera crew spoke to them and asked

them if they would be happy to be filmed and they were. Again, our

journalists are not in the business of doorsteping in a moment of grief.

Was there any value in that? There was no information in that, all

Was there any value in that? There got was a sense of unbelievable

Was there any value in that? There distress. Let me stress again, the

Yes, they were distressed, but showing the impact of events like

this, and, as we have been saying, a shocking event and, yes, stocking

and distressing and upsetting for the family, showing that with the

consent of the family involved is part of the story telling of the

things. And people are saying that relatively ignored. People felt

things. And people are saying that should have been given much more

attention? Yes, and the story we did report on the day. It is true

that the Kenna story, by virtue did report on the day. It is true

spreading over several days and did report on the day. It is true

it, it was a very dominant story, nature of it and the uncertainty of

it, it was a very dominant story, neglected what happened in Peshawar.

On Wednesday we revisited the story powerful piece with a person whose

And they were back in Peshawar and And they were back in Peshawar

talking about the impact on the church and the Christian community

Do write, tweeth or ring us with reaction over anything you see on

BBC News. And you can watch this and previous programmes on our

you expect the news to give to a website. How much air time would

you expect the news to give to a general election in the largest

economy in the euro zone and one of our nearest neighbours? A 409 more

than the BBC gave it? This was an unusual take on voters' preferences.

I'm sure you've all heard of gumy bears. They come from Germany so

we've come to voters on Germany bears. They come from Germany so

coalition they would like. These are our first willing victims.

Could you show us your favourite coalition? My favourite coalition

would be the Green Party and the interesting coalition we don't hear

much about. And you may now eat channel broadcast live from the

funeral service from April Jones, the five—year—old abducted and

murdered almost a year ago. The caught by two headlines on the news

particularer skrolg across the screen which also related to child

abuse. For April, we'll gift her gentle lights over the valley and

for all of us to remember. Oh, little infant, so newly emerged

from your cradle as you sleep the little infant, so newly emerged

from your cradle as you sleep the eternal sleep. Dream only of your

Sleep and dream in peace. Dwell moments of happiness as we cherish

Sleep and dream in peace. Dwell among the stars and in the gentle

Philip Morris wondered what is among the stars and in the gentle

Philip Morris wondered what is Now, the party conference season

continues with Labour meeting this greenhouse, though it was later

looking more like a rainforest. greenhouse, though it was later

was explained as a need to appeal to Middle England. The idea was

defined by one Labour minister with the advice that no—one should be

allowed to leave the paper unless they understand the desire to own a

conservatory, which is why we are here in a giant conservatory with

an audience largely made up by people who own them or aspire to

own them. Amongst the greenery was the former Labour spin doctor, Mr

McBride. It was during another live TV interview that the publisher

McBride. It was during another live involved with a scuffle with a

protester. Tim Hill felt it was And this anonymous caller clearly

felt the same. Why are the BBC journalism regarding McBride—to—be

going on during the Labour Party's supporting his book. Thanks for

opinions on BBC News and current supporting his book. Thanks for

opinions on BBC News and current affairs, or even appear on the

You can find us on twitter at news affairs, or even appear on the

You can find us on twitter at news watch BBC and do have a look at

You can find us on twitter at news That's all from us. We'll be back

it hear your thoughts about BBC News coverage again next week.