CBC Revises 9/11 'Terrorism' Policy Amid Backlash, Maintains Stance for Newer Conflicts
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has updated its internal journalistic guidelines regarding the use of the word 'terrorism' for the 9/11 attacks, following significant backlash. Initially, a leaked memo instructed journalists not to use 'terrorism' to describe the 9/11 al-Qaida attacks without attribution. This prompted widespread condemnation from U.S. officials, including the head of the FBI and the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, as well as Canadian politicians. In response, the CBC issued a clarification on August 28, allowing journalists to directly label the 9/11 events and hijackers as 'terrorism' and 'terrorists.' However, this policy change applies only to 9/11. For newer conflicts, such as the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, the CBC's long-standing policy remains: journalists must attribute the 'T-word' designation to governments, experts, or other sources, rather than using the label themselves. Brodie Fenlon, CBC News’ editor-in-chief, explained that this policy, which has been in plac... 
