The media accreditation for CBC/Radio-Canada journalists to cover the upcoming Republican Party midterm convention has been revoked by the Republican National Committee (RNC). Chuck Thompson, the head of public affairs at CBC, confirmed this decision on Monday, stating that CBC is currently reviewing the RNC’s action and expressing hope for reconsideration.
Despite CBC News’ attempts to reach out to convention organizers for comment via email, there has been no immediate response. Similarly, the White House redirected CBC’s inquiries to the RNC, which could not be reached by phone on Monday evening.
This move comes in the midst of escalating tensions between Canada and the United States, marked by reciprocal sanctions and heightened political rhetoric. Recent criticisms from Republican lawmakers and Trump administration officials towards CBC were triggered by an internal memo leak concerning the use of “terrorism” terminology related to the 9/11 attacks, which garnered international attention.
The memo, which advised against labeling specific attacks as “terrorist acts” unless explicitly attributed, faced backlash ahead of the upcoming 25th anniversary of 9/11. In response to the controversy, CBC’s senior director of journalistic standards and public trust, Basem Boshra, announced adjustments to the language guidance to clarify that direct attribution is not mandatory when describing the events of 9/11 as terrorism, aiming to enhance clarity and public comprehension.
These developments highlight the ongoing tensions and debates surrounding media language use in the context of sensitive historical events such as the 9/11 attacks.