The Media is the Message > Or, perhaps, the media got the message - CBC reverses position on 911 terrorism

 

BREAKING: CBC reverses 9/11 ‘terrorism’ directive after FBI threat, political backlash

CBC News has reversed its 9/11 “terrorism” directive following backlash from the FBI director and Canadian politicians.

Alex Dhaliwal

Aug 28, 2026

∙ Paid

Source: X (Matthew | MCGA/MAGA)

Canada’s state broadcaster announced Friday that journalists will no longer be required to attribute the term “terrorism” when describing the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

“After reviewing our current language guidance, we have decided to adjust it to clarify that direct attribution is not required for describing the historic events of 9/11 as terrorism,” said Basem Boshra, CBC’s senior director of journalistic standards and public trust.

Travis Dhanraj@Travisdhanraj

#BREAKING: @CBCNews backs down, changing its 9/11 language guidance after days of public outrage.

cbc.ca/news/editorsbl…

2:02 PM · Aug 28, 2026 · 17.1K Views

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111 Replies · 109 Reposts · 559 Likes

The reversal follows the leak of internal guidance instructing journalists: “Do not refer to the Sept. 11 attacks as terrorist attacks.”

Instead, reporters were told to describe the hijackings and crashes without independently characterizing them as terrorism.

According to Grok:

CBC reversed a longstanding language rule after a leaked staff memo, public backlash, and official criticism.

cbc.ca

The public broadcaster’s policy had been to avoid using “terrorist” or “terrorism” in its own voice. Journalists were told to attribute those words to officials or experts because CBC considers them politically and emotionally loaded. 

A memo circulated ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 restated that rule and told staff: “Do not refer to the Sept. 11 attacks as terrorist attacks.” It instead directed them to describe hijackings that led to passenger-jet crashes. The memo was first reported by Toronto Sun columnist Warren Kinsella. 

torontosun.com

CBC initially defended the guidance as a reminder of existing practice, similar to policies at some other news organizations. The leak produced widespread criticism from Canadian Conservatives, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, and FBI Director Kash Patel, who called it a “bastardization of history.” 

Critics said the wording minimized an attack that killed nearly 3,000 people, including Canadians. 

CBC doesn't mind emotionally loaded stories as long as they can make the villains out to be Jews. But Muslims, including terrorists, are protected from such language by Canada's far-left national broadcaster.

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