The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) issued a new internal directive on Friday, ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The memo, authored by senior director of journalistic standards Basem Boshra, explains why the previous guidance asked reporters to avoid calling the attacks “terrorist attacks” and outlines the revised language policy.

Why the original guidance caused controversy

The earlier memo described the events as “hijackings that led to passenger jet crashes” in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and Manhattan, noting only that the World Trade Center was destroyed. Critics argued that the wording minimized the horror of the day and the motivation of al‑Qaeda.

New policy clarification

In the updated guidance, CBC News states that journalists may now refer to the Sept. 11 attacks as terrorism without needing to attach a specific attribution each time. Boshra emphasized that the corporation has never denied that the attacks were acts of terrorism and that its reporting over the past 25 years has consistently documented the al‑Qaeda motivation, the hunt for those responsible, and the massive loss of life.

“Clarity and understanding are at the heart of our journalism,” Boshra said. “We are adjusting the language guide to remove an impediment to clear public understanding while continuing to attribute causes and motivations to officials and experts when appropriate.”

Looking ahead to the anniversary

The CBC pledged extensive special coverage for the upcoming 9/11 anniversary, promising respectful and thoughtful reflection on the tragedy. The network also noted that future coverage of politically or ideologically motivated violence will follow the same attribution standards.

Separately, a Canadian military judge dismissed a 2007 confession by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the attacks, citing concerns about its voluntariness. A trial date has been set for June 2028.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.