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The Canadian public broadcaster CBC circulated an internal memorandum to its newsroom staff in early August, reminding journalists to use neutral terminology when reporting on the September 11, 2001 attacks. The guidance, which was intended to be applied during the upcoming 25th‑anniversary coverage, specifically advised against the phrase ‘terrorist attack’ and suggested alternatives such as ‘the events of September 11’ or ‘the attacks on the United States.’
The memo, obtained by media outlets, has ignited a firestorm of backlash. Critics argue that the language sanitises a historically violent act carried out by al‑Qaeda and diminishes the suffering of the nearly 3,000 victims and their families. Several U.S. lawmakers, including members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, publicly condemned the directive, calling it an attempt to rewrite history. On social media, the memo was widely shared, with users accusing CBC of political correctness and of yielding to pressure from advocacy groups that seek to avoid the word ‘terrorist.’
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CBC’s senior management has defended the memo as a standard editorial practice aimed at ensuring impartiality and avoiding loaded terminology that could be perceived as editorialising. In a brief statement, the corporation said the guidance does not intend to erase the nature of the attacks but to maintain consistency with its style guide. The broadcaster has promised to review the feedback and clarify its stance before the anniversary programming begins later this month.
