Peter Menzies: CBC’s Welcome Reversal of Editorial Directive Not to Call 9/11 a Terrorist Attack Reveals 3 Things
Commentary It’s not often that a news organization prompts international controversy, but the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s decision to ban journalists from referring to the 9/11 attack on America as terrorism accomplished just that. Aware that Sept. 11, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of the largest and most notorious act of terror in human memory, the CBC’s senior director of journalistic standards and public trust issued a memo to news staff reminding them of the public broadcaster’s policy. It stated: “Do not refer to the Sept. 11 attacks as terrorist attacks. The hijackings led to passenger jet crashes in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and Manhattan. The World Trade Center (WTC in second reference) was destroyed.”...
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has faced international controversy due to its policy prohibiting journalists from referring to the 9/11 attacks as terrorism. A memo from the CBC’s director of journalistic standards reminded staff not to use the term, instead describing the events as hijackings that led to crashes and destruction. This directive comes as the 25th anniversary of the attacks approaches.
- CBC’s policy forbids calling the 9/11 attacks ‘terrorist attacks’.
- The directive was issued via a memo to news staff.
- The policy is notable as the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches.
- The memo described the events as hijackings resulting in crashes and destruction.
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