Avoid calling the Hamas’ people ‘terrorists’, Voice of America tells staff

One of the editors of the US state run broadcasting agency Voice of America, has sent an email to staff and journalists, asking that they should avoid using the word ‘terrorists’ for Hamas while reporting on the ongoing siege of Gaza by Israel.

Washington Post has reported that Republicans are criticising the news organization for deviating from the official government narrative, stating that the government-funded news organization should not shy away from using the word ‘terrorist’.

Three days after Hamas rampaged through southern Israel, an editor at Voice of America offered some lexical guidance in a staff-wide email: Avoid calling the perpetrators “terrorists.” Now, Republican lawmakers are objecting to the word choice at VOA. https://t.co/OwD2Ze0VCy

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 29, 2023

The mail suggested, “In covering the Israel-Gaza war — or any other conflict — we need to remember VOA’s commitment to fairness, neutrality and balance. We cannot favor one side over another or do anything that feeds even the perception of bias. The October 7 attacks on Israel may be described as terrorist attacks or acts of terror, but avoid calling Hamas and its members terrorists, except in quotes.”