Social media reacts to CBC directive to not refer to 9/11 attacks as ‘terrorist attacks’

· Toronto Sun

See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source

In Warren Kinsella’s new book, The Hidden Hand: The Information War and the Rise of Antisemitic Propaganda , he describes how too many news organizations do not use the word “terrorism” to describe terrorism.

Visit freshyourfeel.org for more information.

In Kinsella’s latest column , he points out exactly that after receiving a presumably confidential memo addressed to CBC News staff from Basem Boshra, the outlet’s Senior Director of Journalistic Standards and Public Trust, that instructed reporters: “Do not refer to the Sept. 11 attacks as terrorist attacks.”

CBC’s response to Kinsella explained that the broadcaster’s “longstanding language guidance regarding the terms ‘terrorist’ and ‘terrorism’ is a preference for the use of these words with attribution, a practice shared by many of the world’s top journalistic organizations.”

And there it is — full circle.

But can we be serious here? No mincing words, no pulling of punches — anyone who was around to watch or witness or experience what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, knows that it was a terrorist attack.

Naturally, CBC’s defence sent social media into a tailspin, with the policy being described by some as “appalling,” “horrid,” “insane,” and “absolutely shameful.”

Author Aviva Klompas called the CBC “a deeply unserious news organization,” adding that CBC News apparently “isn’t convinced hijacking planes and using them to murder nearly 3,000 civilians is terrorism.”

Travis Dhanraj, ex-host of CBC’s Canada Tonight, said his former employer “may have the most incompetent, ideologically captured management in the country.”

He continued: I didn’t get the memo so I can say with [100%] confidence: 9/11 WAS A TERRORIST ATTACK. Policing this language isn’t ‘careful journalism.’ It’s an insult to victims & their families.”

Lethbridge MP Rachael Thomas wrote: “The CBC is choosing to redefine terrorism in a way that downplays the atrocity of 9/11,” referring to it as “an act of terrorism.”

She added: “Trying to sanitize or rewrite that history is deeply offensive and does a disservice to everyone who was affected by the attacks.”

Peter Menzies, past editor and publisher of the Calgary Herald, pleaded: “Someone tell me this isn’t true so I can retain the will to live.”

National Post columnist Tristan Hopper remarked: “Riiight at the time the CBC needed to replace a lot of old hands who held valuable stores of institutional memory, they decided that, actually, journalists should be mendacious activists.”

Political commentator Jon Fraser noted: “The CBC directive to not call the 9/11 attacks terrorism is next level Orwellian. If they are trying to build their case for being defunded, this will definitely help.”

There were some who questioned the authenticity of the memo, which Kinsella assured is, indeed, legit.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

.

Read full story at source