The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation recently drew sharp criticism following the leak of an internal memo directing its journalists to avoid the term “terrorist” when referring to Hamas fighters in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
George Achi, the Director of Journalistic Standards at CBC, emphasized in the memo that “The notion of terrorism remains heavily politicized,” advising reporters to add context if the term is used in quotations to signify that it’s an opinion.
This stance drew the ire of various stakeholders. Conservative Senator Leo Housakos voiced his objections on X, criticizing the CBC’s journalistic integrity, while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also made his stance clear, asserting, “Hamas terrorists aren’t a resistance, they’re not freedom fighters. They are terrorists.”
Despite the stance from CBC and others in the media industry, the Government of Canada officially designates Hamas as a “listed terrorist entity.” It has been listed as such since November 27, 2002, with the designation reviewed in 2021.
The CBC’s directive aligns with an industry trend. The Washington Post’s former editor emphasized discussing “acts of terrorism” rather than labeling individuals. The Associated Press also advises a similar approach, focusing on the actions and attributing terms like ‘terrorism’ to authorities. Other major outlets, like Al Jazeera, the BBC, and The New York Times, have also faced scrutiny for their terminology choices.
The challenges in defining terrorism were highlighted by the United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s 2017 publication, which underscores the complexities tied to the term’s historical and emotional weight.
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