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5h ago

CBC Revises Guidance After Memo Told Staff Not to Call 9/11 'Terrorist Attacks'

Widespread criticism from Canadian and U.S. officials prompted CBC to clarify how it will describe its 25th‑anniversary coverage.

Confusion has been swirling about how CBC News journalists use the words 'terrorist' and 'terrorism,' particularly in connection with the al-Qaeda attacks on New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001.
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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 30: New York City Police Officer Robert McArdle stands with his rescue dog T.C. during a tribute at the 9/11 Memorial for recovery workers and first responders on the10-year anniversary of the formal end of cleanup operations at Ground Zero on May 30, 2012 in New York City. Thousands of men and women came to Ground Zero following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to help with the recovery effort. Numerous first responders, including police and fire fighters, have subsequently been plagued with health issues many believe are related to the air they breathed in the weeks and months following the attacks. The nine-month recovery effort at the site ended May 30, 2002. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Overview

  • A leaked internal memo published late last week instructed CBC reporters not to refer to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks as "terrorist attacks," instead advising neutral wording about hijackings and plane crashes.
  • CBC initially defended the note as a reminder of a longstanding attribution-first policy that prefers using the words "terrorist" and "terrorism" only when attributed to authorities or sources.
  • The memo, attributed in reporting to Basem Boshra, prompted sharp criticism from Conservative Canadian politicians, U.S. lawmakers and advocacy groups who said avoiding the label dishonors victims and conflicts with Canada's official designation of al-Qaeda as a terrorist entity.
  • On Friday, after the public outcry, CBC announced it would change its language guidance so that direct attribution is no longer required to describe 9/11 as terrorism and said the leaked excerpt had lacked full context.
  • The episode highlights scrutiny of the taxpayer-funded broadcaster's editorial practices, recalls past disputes over CBC coverage of the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, and could increase political and public pressure over how public institutions name politically charged violence.