[GretchenM]

Two pictures are worth ten thousand words. Nevertheless:

Merriam-Webster online

Main Entry: 1in·sur·gent
Pronunciation: -j&nt
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin insurgent-, insurgens, present participle of insurgere to rise up, from in- + surgere to rise -- more at SURGE
1 : a person who revolts against civil authority or an established government; especially : a rebel not recognized as a belligerent
2 : one who acts contrary to the policies and decisions of one's own political party

Main Entry: ter·ror·ism
Pronunciation: 'ter-&r-"i-z&m
Function: noun
: the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion

[GretchenM]

I found this especially interesting, in the M-W definition for "insurgent":

"... especially : a rebel not recognized as a belligerent"

Hey, media types: Square peg, round hole.

[endthematrix]

Word play:

A lone insurgent is called a terrorist.

A group of terrorists are called insurgents.

[expat_panama]

I would like to see terms like "militants," "guerrillas" and "insurgents" taken from the mouths of the press and replaced with the appropriate vocabulary

Misusing words is another way of lying.   Newspaper writers know full well what the standard definitions for words are.   It's when they get caught at libel that they try to weasel out with "Ah, er, well, I meant to define the word 'terrorist' as anyone who does bad things".

Does that mean I can call Peter Jennings say, a 'child molester'?