The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reversed course Friday on internal guidance that had advised its journalists not to directly refer to Al-Qaeda's September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States as an act of terrorism. The policy reversal came after widespread criticism from political leaders in both Canada and the United States.

CBC, Canada's public broadcaster, issued an internal memo earlier this week — first reported by The Toronto Sun — that instructed journalists to avoid labeling the 9/11 attacks as terrorism when describing the events. The guidance drew immediate condemnation from officials who argued such language was necessary for accurate historical reporting.

What the Right Is Saying

Conservative politicians and commentators called the original CBC guidance a disturbing example of political correctness undermining factual reporting. Several Republican members of Congress issued statements praising CBC's reversal but criticizing the initial decision. Texas Governor Greg Abbott wrote on social media that 'there is no justification for refusing to call the murder of nearly 3,000 Americans what it was — an act of terrorism.' House Speaker Mike Johnson said the original guidance 'undermined basic historical truth' and praised CBC for reversing course.

What the Left Is Saying

Progressive commentators and some media ethics scholars argued that broadcasters must maintain journalistic independence in how they describe historical events, free from political pressure. They noted that language choices in news coverage should reflect careful editorial judgment rather than external demands. Some progressive voices suggested the initial guidance reflected legitimate concerns about overusing certain terms, though most acknowledged that 9/11 represented a clear case where 'terrorism' was an appropriate descriptor.

What the Numbers Show

The September 11, 2001 attacks killed 2,977 people at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked four commercial aircraft, two of which struck the World Trade Center towers, causing their collapse. The events directly led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the USA PATRIOT Act, and ongoing military operations in Afghanistan. Former FBI Director Robert Mueller III characterized the attacks as 'the largest criminal case in history.'

The Bottom Line

CBC's reversal underscores how language choices around terrorism remain politically charged for major news organizations. The broadcaster now faces scrutiny from multiple directions — those who argued it should never have issued the original guidance, and those who question whether external political pressure influenced its editorial decision-making. Media watchdogs say they will monitor CBC's future coverage to ensure consistency.