Full Breakdown
CBC Memo on 9/11 Terminology Triggers U.S. Law-Enforcement Response
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The guidance asked staff to describe the hijackings and the resulting crashes without using the term “terrorism.” CBC initially defended the memo as a reminder of its longstanding practice of using “terrorist” and “terrorism” only with attribution, a convention it said it shared with other major news organizations.
Background & Context
The memo surfaced in the run-up to the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, a day noted in the date ledger as an occurred event. Toronto Sun columnist Warren Kinsella reported the memo, framing it as part of a broader “revisionist” approach within the broadcaster. CBC’s editorial policy had previously required attribution when using the term “terrorism,” but the new directive removed that requirement.
Official Statements & Responses
- U.S. Law-Enforcement Reaction: A U.S. law-enforcement source told The Bureau that FBI personnel stationed at American diplomatic posts in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver were instructed to leave their workplaces and go home following the memo’s release.
- U.S. Ambassador’s Amplification: The next day, U.S.
- CBC Revision: On August 28, 2024, CBC announced on its editor’s blog that journalists would again be permitted to describe the September 11 attacks as terrorism without needing attribution, effectively reversing the August 27 memo.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The extent and duration of the FBI personnel’s removal from their offices remain unclear. The Bureau’s article notes that it is unknown whether the staff continued working remotely, how long they stayed away, who authorized the measure, or whether any intelligence exchanges with Canadian agencies were interrupted. The FBI’s refusal to confirm or deny the claim leaves the operational impact of the directive unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Whatever the idiocy of the CBC statement, professionals at the ‘coalface’ have always collaborated closely to help thwart possible threats,” — Phil Gurski, a former senior strategic analyst for Canadian Security Intelligence Service
- “The terrorist attacks of September 11 left a lasting mark on me and our nation, but during a very dark time, the people of Newfoundland showed us what true community really means,” — Pete Hoekstra, ambassador
