The Republican Party has decided to withdraw CBC/Radio-Canada’s media accreditation for its upcoming midterm convention. Chuck Thompson, the head of public affairs at CBC, confirmed on Monday that the Republican National Committee (RNC) would not be granting accreditation to CBC/Radio-Canada journalists for coverage of the convention scheduled in Dallas, Texas, on September 9 and 10. Thompson expressed disappointment in a written statement and mentioned that CBC was evaluating the RNC’s decision, hoping for a reconsideration.
Organizers of the convention did not respond immediately to CBC News’ requests for comment via email on Monday evening. The White House directed CBC’s inquiries to the RNC, but attempts to reach the committee by phone were unsuccessful. The move to revoke accreditation comes at a time of escalating tensions between Canada and the United States due to recent trade disputes and retaliatory measures.
Moreover, Republican lawmakers and officials from the Trump administration criticized CBC following the leak of an internal memo regarding the use of terms like “terrorism” in relation to the 9/11 attacks. The memo sparked international attention and raised concerns about labeling such incidents. In response, 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.
The decision to modify the language guidance was made to enhance clarity and public comprehension. The adjustments aim to address unintended obstacles to clear communication and understanding. The revision comes after criticism from U.S. House of Representatives members and public attention surrounding the language used by CBC journalists in reporting on sensitive topics like terrorism.
