The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has instructed its staff not to refer to the events of September 11, 2001, as "terrorist attacks" in its upcoming coverage of the 25th anniversary, according to an internal memo. The public broadcaster emphasized its longstanding policy of avoiding terms like "terrorist" and "terrorism" when describing such events, a directive that has previously drawn criticism during its coverage of the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel.
The memo stated, "Do not refer to the Sept. 11 attacks as terrorist attacks. The hijackings led to passenger jet crashes in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and Manhattan. The World Trade Center (WTC in second reference) was destroyed." The memo was signed by Basem Boshra, senior director of journalistic standards and public trust at CBC News, as reported by the Toronto Sun.
CBC defended the memo, stating it serves as a reminder for journalists to adhere to the organization's policy, which aims to maintain impartiality. Kerry Kelly, a public affairs spokesperson for CBC, explained, "Our focus is to report the facts of such atrocities with accuracy, clarity, and detail; to convey the scale and scope of violent acts wherever they occur; to quote the people affected, and to convey the views of officials and experts on these events. We bear witness."
Kelly added that CBC does not label specific groups as terrorists or specific acts as terrorism, arguing that such terminology is laden with political and emotional connotations that could hinder journalistic objectivity. The organization typically reserves the use of these terms for direct quotes from others.
Rachel Thomas, a Conservative Member of Parliament, criticized the leaked memo, calling it shameful and asserting that it diminishes the gravity of the attacks. She stated, "Refusing to call it an act of terrorism dishonours the victims, their families, the survivors, and the first responders who witnessed the horrors of that day. Trying to sanitize or rewrite that history is deeply offensive and does a disservice to everyone who was affected by the attacks." The CBC has faced scrutiny for its approach to terminology in the context of recent events, including the October 7 attack in Israel, which prompted Conservative MPs to seek clarification on the broadcaster's coverage policies.