The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reversed a policy that barred journalists from labeling the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks as a “terrorist attack” [1, 2].
The reversal follows a wave of criticism from the public and political leaders who viewed the restriction as a denial of historical fact. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions regarding editorial standards and the language used to describe global conflicts at a public broadcaster.
The policy change was announced Friday, Aug. 28 [2]. It came after internal directives surfaced showing that CBC leadership had instructed staff to avoid specific terminology when reporting on the events of 2001.
Basem Boshra, a senior executive at CBC, said to staff, "Do not refer to the Sept. 11 attacks as terrorist attacks" [3]. This directive effectively banned the use of the term across the network's news coverage.
The restriction drew widespread condemnation. Critics and political figures said the policy was "grievously insulting" [1, 2]. The backlash centered on the argument that the 9/11 attacks are globally recognized as acts of terrorism, and that omitting the label was a distortion of the truth.
CBC walked back the policy following this outcry [1, 2]. The network has not provided a detailed explanation for why the restriction was initially implemented, but the reversal allows journalists to return to using the "terrorist attack" label in their reporting.
“"Do not refer to the Sept. 11 attacks as terrorist attacks."”
This incident reflects a broader global struggle within legacy media institutions to balance evolving editorial sensitivities with historical accuracy. By attempting to regulate the terminology of a widely accepted historical event, CBC triggered a debate over the role of a public broadcaster in defining truth versus adhering to political or social pressures.
