The Republican Party has decided to withdraw CBC/Radio-Canada’s media accreditation for their upcoming midterm convention. Chuck Thompson, the head of public affairs at CBC, confirmed this on Monday, stating that the Republican National Committee (RNC) would no longer grant accreditation to CBC/Radio-Canada journalists for the convention scheduled in Dallas, Texas on September 9 and 10. Thompson mentioned that CBC is currently evaluating the RNC’s decision and expressed disappointment, hoping for a reconsideration.
Despite CBC News reaching out to convention organizers for comments through email on Monday evening, there was no immediate response. The White House redirected CBC’s queries to the RNC, but attempts to contact the committee by phone were unsuccessful. This move comes during escalating tensions between Canada and the United States due to increased sanctions and contentious rhetoric from politicians on both sides of the border.
Recent criticisms from Republican lawmakers and Trump administration officials towards CBC followed the exposure of an internal memo from the broadcaster regarding the use of the terms “terrorism” and “terrorist” in connection to the 9/11 attacks, attracting international attention. The memo outlined a policy instructing CBC journalists to avoid labeling specific attacks as ‘terrorist acts’ unless officially attributed, sparking condemnation ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 next month.
Responding to the feedback, Basem Boshra, CBC’s senior director of journalistic standards and public trust, announced on Friday that after reviewing their language guidance, they would clarify that direct attribution is not mandatory when describing the historical events of 9/11 as terrorism. This adjustment aims to enhance clarity and public understanding, addressing unintended confusion caused by the previous language guidance.