The upcoming midterm convention of the Republican Party will not grant media accreditation to CBC/Radio-Canada journalists, as confirmed by Chuck Thompson, CBC’s head of public affairs. The convention, scheduled for September 9 and 10 in Dallas, Texas, will be covered without CBC/Radio-Canada representation due to the decision made by the Republican National Committee (RNC).
CBC is currently assessing the RNC’s move and expressed disappointment, hoping for a reconsideration of the decision. Organizers of the convention did not respond to CBC News’ requests for comment via email on Monday evening. When CBC reached out to the White House for comments, they redirected inquiries to the RNC, which was unreachable by phone that same evening.
This development occurs amidst escalating tensions between Canada and the United States, marked by increasing trade disputes and inflammatory statements from officials on both sides. Recent criticisms from Republican lawmakers and Trump administration members towards CBC stemmed from an internal memo leak concerning the use of “terrorism” and “terrorist” in reference to the 9/11 attacks, attracting global attention.
The leaked memo highlighted CBC’s guideline for journalists to refrain from labeling specific incidents as “terrorist acts” unless attributed as such, sparking controversy ahead of the upcoming 25th anniversary of 9/11. Responding to the backlash, CBC’s senior director of journalistic standards and public trust, Basem Boshra, announced a revision of the language guidance to clarify that direct attribution is not mandatory when describing the events of 9/11 as acts of terrorism.
This adjustment aims to enhance clarity and public comprehension, addressing unintentional obstacles created by the previous guideline. It follows criticisms from U.S. House of Representatives members and aims to provide more transparent communication regarding historical events like 9/11.