BBC journalists reportedly advised to avoid term ‘kidnapped’ in coverage of Maduro’s capture

BBC journalists have reportedly been instructed not to describe the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces as a “kidnapping,” according to a leaked internal memo cited by a British newspaper columnist.

Owen Jones, a UK-based commentator with more than one million followers on social media, said on Monday that the guidance came from BBC management. He claimed the memo advised journalists to avoid the word “kidnapped” and instead use “captured” when referring to the US government’s description of the military operation.

The reported instruction relates to coverage of the US raid in Venezuela that led to Maduro’s arrest and transfer to the United States, a move that has sparked international controversy and criticism at the United Nations.

Neither the BBC nor US authorities have publicly commented on the alleged memo. The broadcaster, headquartered in London, is bound by strict editorial guidelines that emphasise accuracy, impartiality and careful use of language in politically sensitive reporting.

The claims have reignited debate in the UK over media neutrality and the language used by major news organisations when reporting on military actions involving Western governments.