The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has revised its internal language guidance regarding the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, allowing journalists to refer to the events as terrorism without requiring direct attribution. The adjustment follows a controversy sparked by a leaked memo that advised reporters and editors to refrain from using the term "terrorist attacks."
Basem Boshra, CBC News' senior director of journalistic standards and public trust, authored the memo, which surfaced ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks. The initial directive, first reported by the Toronto Sun, stated, "Do not refer to the Sept. 11 attacks as terrorist attacks." Instead, it described the events as hijackings that led to the destruction of the World Trade Center and crashes in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and Manhattan.
CBC released a statement Friday addressing the ensuing confusion and anger. "The confusion stems from the leak of an excerpt from our internal language guide that was published and amplified by a number of outlets without full context or explanation," Boshra stated. "It has caused significant concern, anger and hurt for many people who believe CBC News seeks to minimize or obscure the horror of that day and who was behind it."
Boshra emphasized that CBC News has never stated that the events of Sept. 11 were not terrorism. He clarified that the organization's reporting has always been guided by the principle of attribution, a practice common among major news organizations. "We have reported fully and accurately on the reasons and motivations for those attacks as determined by police, governments and an independent commission. We've just made sure to do it with attribution," he said.
The decision to adjust the guidance was made "to remove what has unfortunately (and unintentionally) become an impediment to clarity and public understanding," Boshra explained. He added that CBC News will continue to attribute causes and motivations to officials and experts for new acts of politically or ideologically motivated violence.
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is preparing to observe the 25th anniversary of the attacks. President Elizabeth Hillman has spoken about the importance of educating the nearly 100 million Americans born after 9/11 on the event's historical significance and the nation's response.
In related legal developments, military judge Lt. Col. Michael Schrama recently dismissed a confession made by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. The judge ruled that statements made to investigators in 2007 were not voluntary. A trial date has been set for June 2028 for Mohammed and three co-defendants.