CBC Instructs Staff Not to Call 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation issued an internal memo instructing reporters and editors not to refer to the September 11 attacks as terrorist attacks. Authored by Basem Boshra, the Senior Director of Journalistic Standards and Public Trust, the directive was circulated ahead of the event's 25th anniversary. Boshra instructed staff to instead state that the hijackings led to passenger jet crashes.

The memo became public after being highlighted by journalists Warren Kinsella and Brian Lilley in the Toronto Sun and Toronto Star. Conservative MP Rachel Thomas condemned the instruction as shameful, arguing that it downplays the atrocity and dishonors victims and first responders. Warren Kinsella characterized the directive as an attempt to rewrite the historical record to fit an ideological perspective.

CBC spokesperson Kerry Kelly defended the memo as a regular reminder of longstanding language guidance. She stated that the broadcaster prefers to use the terms terrorist and terrorism only with attribution to credible sources or government officials. Editor-in-Chief Brodie Fenlon added that the organization avoids designating specific acts as terrorism because such terms are loaded with emotion and politics, which can impede impartial journalism.