NYT Censorship of Words Like "Genocide" in Gaza Coverage

https://truthout.org/articles/leaked-document-shows-nyt-censorship-of-words-like-genocide-in-gaza-coverage/

Leaked Document Shows NYT Censorship of Words Like “Genocide” in Gaza Coverage

The Times discourages references to “Palestine,” in a refusal to acknowledge the state Israel has been occupying.

By Sharon Zhang , TRUTHOUT
Published April 16, 2024

The New York Times has a policy of systematically censoring words like “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing” in its coverage of Israel’s genocidal assault of Gaza, according to an internal memo obtained by The Intercept this week.

The Times memo instructs its journalists to avoid using the terms “genocide,” “ethnic cleansing” and “refugee camps” when writing about Palestine. It directs them to steer clear of referring to areas of Palestine as “occupied territory” — and, even further, discourages referring to Palestine as “Palestine” whatsoever. In addition, the memo claims that words like “slaughter,” “massacre” and “carnage” are often too emotional to describe Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.

The memo was written by Times standards editor Susan Wessling and international editor Philip Pan and their employees, and says its aim is to “offe[r] guidance” on terms the paper has “grappled with” since October, when Israel’s current siege of Gaza commenced.

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