The Republican National Committee has decided to withdraw media accreditation for CBC/Radio-Canada journalists for their upcoming midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 9 and 10. Chuck Thompson, CBC’s head of public affairs, confirmed this development on Monday, expressing disappointment and hoping for a reconsideration of the decision.
CBC is currently evaluating the RNC’s move while convention organizers have not responded to requests for comments. Despite CBC’s efforts to reach out to the White House and the RNC for clarification, no responses were received. This decision comes amidst 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 stemmed from an internal memo leak concerning the terminology used regarding the 9/11 attacks. The memo’s instructions to avoid labeling specific incidents as “terrorist acts” unless explicitly attributed sparked international attention and controversy ahead of the upcoming 25-year anniversary of 9/11.
In response to the backlash, CBC’s senior director of journalistic standards and public trust, Basem Boshra, announced a revision to the language guidance. The updated policy clarifies that direct attribution is not mandatory when describing the events of 9/11 as terrorism, aiming to enhance clarity and public comprehension of historical events.