Last month the BBC marked the anniversary of the November 2015 terror attacks in Paris with a series of reports on multiple platforms.
Some of those reports focused on the stories of victims and survivors of the attacks.
“Bataclan terror attack: Family of British victim speak a year on” BBC News website, November 7th, 2016.
“The family of the only British victim of the Paris nightclub attack a year ago have told of seeing the terror incident unfold in “real time”.”
“‘A changed man’: One year on from surviving the Paris terror attacks” BBC Radio 5 live & BBC News website, November 12th, 2016.
“The smell of a firework or the sight of blood can take Michael O’Connor back to the night when 89 people lost their lives in the Bataclan terror attack in Paris.”
“The Bataclan attacks remembered” BBC Radio 4 & BBC News website, November 10th, 2016.
“‘Grandson thinks rocket took away daddy after Bataclan attack’” BBC Radio 5 live & BBC News website, November 11th, 2016.
“British Bataclan survivor writes letter a year on from Paris attacks” Newsbeat, November 11th, 2016.
“On 13 November 2015, terrorists tried to kill me. Whilst they did not succeed in ending my life, my life has been changed forever.”
“Bataclan terror attack: Survivor returns to concert hall” BBC News website, November 13th, 2016.
“A survivor of last year’s Bataclan terror attack in Paris, Stephane Toutlouyan, explains why he returned to the concert-hall to relive the night.”
Other reports focused on commemoration of the attacks in France, including the reopening of the Bataclan Theatre.
“Paris attacks: France state of emergency to be extended – PM Valls” BBC News website, November 13th, 2016
“France’s state of emergency imposed after last year’s terror attacks in Paris is likely to be extended, Prime Minister Manuel Valls has told the BBC.”
“Paris attacks: Bataclan reopens, but wounds are not closed” BBC News website, November 13th, 2016.
“France is commemorating its worst terrorist attack on home soil since World War Two. The attacks by so-called Islamic State, on the night of 13 November last year, left 130 people dead and hundreds wounded.”
“Paris attacks: Sting prepares for Bataclan concert” BBC News website, November 12th, 2016.
“Sting and his band rehearse for their concert which will reopen the Bataclan hall in Paris for the first time since last year’s terror attack.”
“Sting tribute for Bataclan victims” BBC News website, November 13th, 2016.
“Pop star Sting played a concert to mark the reopening of Paris’ Bataclan venue, a year after the terrorist attack there.”
As can be seen above, despite its own guidelines on ‘Language when Reporting Terrorism‘, the BBC was able to accurately and appropriately describe the November 2015 attacks in Paris as acts of terror.
In contrast, not only do BBC audiences not get to hear the stories of Israeli victims and survivors of attacks but the corporation continues its editorial policy of refraining from using the words ‘terror’, terrorism’ or ‘terrorist’ in its reporting from Israel.
Related Articles:
Radio 4 gives insight into BBC avoidance of the use of the term ‘terror’ in Israel
Compare and contrast: BBC News personalisation of victims of terror
Comparing BBC personalisation of victims of terror in Paris, Brussels and Israel
BBC Complaints: terror attacks in Jerusalem and Tunisia are “very different”
