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CBC reverses policy on 9/11 'terrorist attack' terminology after backlash
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is facing intense criticism following the leak of an internal memo instructing journalists not to refer to the September 11 attacks as 'terrorist attacks.' The directive, issued by Basem Boshra, senior director of journalistic standards and public trust, suggested using more clinical language, such as describing the events as 'hijackings that led to passenger jet crashes.'
CBC officials defended the guidance as a longstanding policy intended to maintain journalistic neutrality by requiring the use of terms like 'terrorist' or 'terrorism' only when attributed to credible sources. However, the policy drew sharp rebukes from U.S. FBI Director Kash Patel, who called it a 'bastardization of history,' and Canadian Conservative MP Rachael Thomas, who stated the directive 'dishonours the victims.'
In response to the widespread backlash from politicians, Jewish organizations, and victims' families, the CBC announced it is changing its language policy. The broadcaster will no longer require direct attribution when describing the 9/11 attacks as an act of terrorism. Canadian Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree also weighed in, noting that the condemnation of 9/11 as a terrorist attack is a matter of Canadian law.
Entities
Al-Qaeda · Basem Boshra · CBC · Canadian Broadcasting Corporation · Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs · Kash Patel · Rachael Thomas · Rachel Thomas · Warren Kinsella · World Trade Center
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 16 SOURCES] CBC News senior director Basem Boshra issued a memo instructing staff not to refer to the September 11 attacks as 'terrorist attacks.' ordu.az · www.lifesitenews.com · nemosnewsnetwork.com · ntdca.com · www.breakingchristiannews.com · +11 more
- [● 16 SOURCES] CBC defended the directive as a reminder of a longstanding policy to use terms like 'terrorist' only with attribution to credible sources. ordu.az · www.lifesitenews.com · nemosnewsnetwork.com · ntdca.com · www.breakingchristiannews.com · +11 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] Canadian Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree stated that the government has always recognized 9/11 as a terrorist attack, noting it is written into Canadian law. ntdca.com · lethbridgeherald.com · www.castanet.net
- [● 4 SOURCES] FBI Director Kash Patel criticized the CBC policy, calling it a 'bastardization of history' and an insult to the victims. nemosnewsnetwork.com · ntdca.com · lethbridgeherald.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Following significant backlash, CBC announced it is changing its policy so that direct attribution is no longer required when describing 9/11 as an act of terrorism. lethbridgeherald.com · www.castanet.net