CBC Instructs Reporters Not to Label 9/11 as Terrorism

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) issued a memo this week to its reporters and editors directing them not to use the term “terrorist attack” when discussing the events of September 11, 2001. This directive stirred a considerable amount of astonishment among those who learned of it.

The memo, as highlighted by Warren Kinsella in the Toronto Sun, clearly stated, “Do not refer to the Sept. 11 attacks as terrorist attacks.” It further elaborated, explaining how the hijackings led to crashes in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and New York, while the World Trade Center was destroyed, all to justify why these events should not be termed a terrorist attack.

Kinsella noted that the memo was attributed to Basem Boshra, who holds the position of Senior Director of Journalistic Standards and Public Trust at CBC News. Seeking clarification on this unusual directive, Kinsella contacted CBC for insights into the reasoning behind the characterization of hijackings that resulted in passenger jet crashes.

In response, CBC spokeswoman Kerry Kelly explained that the organization has a longstanding guidance on the use of the terms “terrorist” and “terrorism.” She mentioned a preference for using these terms with attribution, a practice common among many leading journalistic organizations. Previous public statements from CBC’s general manager and editor-in-chief had addressed this topic.

This suggests that CBC is attempting to follow the trend of using softer language when referring to groups categorized as terrorists, opting for terms like “activists” or “militants.” It also appears that their memo employs passive constructions that seem to soften the horrific impact of 9/11, as if the crashes were merely unfortunate events rather than deliberate acts of terror.

Kelly had another chance to clarify when the New York Post reached out for additional comments on Thursday, but her explanation arguably complicated matters further. She stated that CBC’s goal is to report on such violent acts with accuracy and clarity, aiming to portray the scale of these events and the perspectives of those affected. However, she insisted that CBC does not label specific groups as terrorists or certain actions as terrorism, claiming that such terminology carries heavy political and emotional baggage that could hinder journalistic efforts.

The New York Post pointed out that even Osama bin Laden described the 9/11 attacks as an act of “blessed terror,” which they suggested should satisfy CBC’s criteria. But when Kelly responded to the National Post, she seemed to contradict herself, asserting it was “wholly inaccurate” to claim that journalists were instructed to avoid labeling the attacks as terrorism, despite the memo’s clear language.

She further tried to rationalize CBC’s stance by mentioning that the organization similarly refrained from labeling the violence against Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, as terrorism. However, this did little to elevate her argument.

The blog post Kelly referenced, written by CBC News editor-in-chief Brodie Fenlon, reiterated the idea that one person’s terrorist might be another’s freedom fighter. This piece appeared after the prior memo, which instructed not to label the Hamas attack as terrorism, was made public.

Fenlon highlighted that CBC News strives to remain independent of governmental influences and has historically faced pressure to define certain acts of violence as terrorism—indicating that the significance of such labels is often contested.

In the memo, Fenlon also cited the CBC style guide, which advises extreme caution when using the terms terrorist and terrorism. The guide notes that while these terms might be clear in certain instances, they can lead to complexities in others, raising questions about impartiality in reporting on various global attacks.

This situation sparked outrage on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border. Conservative MP Rachael Thomas criticized the CBC memo as “absolutely shameful,” arguing that it undermines the gravity of 9/11. She asserted that refusing to label it as terrorism dishonors the victims and first responders from that tragic day.

“9/11 was an act of terrorism. Full stop,” Thomas expressed emphatically, suggesting attempts to sanitize that history are deeply offensive to those affected.

The U.S. House Republicans also chimed in, questioning the motives behind downplaying the most devastating terrorist attack on American soil and hinting that CBC’s actions could be influenced by broader issues between Canada and the U.S., despite CBC’s long-standing record of using euphemisms for acts of terror.