The upcoming Republican Party midterm convention has seen CBC/Radio-Canada’s media accreditation revoked by the party. Chuck Thompson, the head of public affairs at CBC, confirmed this decision on Monday, stating that the Republican National Committee (RNC) has denied accreditation for CBC/Radio-Canada journalists to cover the event in Dallas, Texas, scheduled for September 9 and 10. Thompson expressed disappointment at the development and mentioned that CBC is evaluating the RNC’s stance, hoping for a reconsideration.
Requests for comments from convention organizers by CBC News via email on Monday evening went unanswered. The White House redirected CBC’s inquiries to the RNC, but attempts to reach the committee by phone were unsuccessful. This move to revoke accreditation comes amidst escalating tensions between Canada and the United States due to increasing sanctions and confrontational rhetoric from politicians on both sides of the border.
Criticism from Republican lawmakers and Trump administration officials ensued following the leak of an internal CBC memo concerning the use of the terms “terrorism” and “terrorist” in relation to the 9/11 attacks, which gained international attention. The memo highlighted a policy directing CBC journalists to avoid labeling specific attacks as “terrorist acts” unless attributed, sparking widespread condemnation ahead of the upcoming 25-year anniversary of 9/11 next month.
In response to the controversy, CBC’s senior director of journalistic standards and public trust, Basem Boshra, announced on Friday that the public broadcaster would adjust its language guidance to clarify that direct attribution is not necessary when describing the events of 9/11 as terrorism. This adjustment aims to enhance clarity and public understanding, addressing concerns raised by critics regarding the previous language guidelines.