BBC tells reporters: Don’t mention the ‘R-word’

The BBC is facing claims that it is avoiding using the ‘R-word’ – recession – to avoid being too depressing about the gloomy situation.

It has been alleged that reporters have been encouraged to opt for ‘downturn’.

Sources have suggested that those covering the story for the BBC World Service have also been given the phrase ‘global financial crisis’ to use.

The edict, which the corporation is denying, was said to have been brought in on the same day that Gordon Brown used the word recession for the first time.

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This comes after earlier claims that the broadcaster had also banned the phrase ‘crisis’ in relation to the story.

• A d v e r t i s e m e n t

Yesterday Jeremy Hillman, editor of the BBC business and economics unit, denied self-censorship.

He said: ‘We have been using the R-word all week and for several months.’

On a BBC blog he added: ‘I suppose we should comfort ourselves that we are getting criticism both ways which must put us in about the right place.’