Do not refer to 9/11 as 'terror attacks,' leaked Canadian broadcaster memo instructs reporters

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has issued a memo instructing its reporters and editors not to refer to the September 11, 2001, events as “terrorist attacks.” This directive, confirmed by CBC spokeswoman Kerry Kelly, aligns with the broadcaster's longstanding practice to “exercise extreme caution before using the words terrorist and terrorism.” The memo, authored by Basem Boshra, senior director of journalistic standards, states that the events should be described as “the hijackings led to passenger jet crashes in Washington, DC, Pennsylvania and Manhattan. The World Trade Center was destroyed.”

“CBC News does not itself designate specific groups as terrorists, or specific acts as terrorism,”

said Brodie Fenlon, CBC news editor-in-chief, explaining that such terms are “loaded with meaning, politics and emotion.” This policy applies to various global incidents, including the 2001 US attacks, which CBC prefers to call “the Sept. 11 attacks.” Canadian MP Rachel Thomas criticized the memo as “absolutely shameful,” asserting that “9/11 was an act of terrorism. Full stop.”