The CBC public broadcaster’s ombudsman has cleared the station of breaching its journalistic standards regarding its decision not to use the word “terrorist” to describe Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. This comes in response to a complaint alleging that CBC was not adequately describing the violent nature of the event. While Mr. Nagler acknowledged that CBC’s decision made it more difficult to describe the nature of the attack, he found that the station’s practice of referring to Hamas as terrorists only with attribution adhered to its journalistic standards. However, he did note that there was room for improvement in the corporation’s description of the events, and that the broadcaster could do better in some instances.
The ombudsman also emphasized that CBC’s choice to avoid the word “terrorist” did not necessarily breach its Journalistic Standards and Practices but acknowledged that some aspects of the reporting could be enhanced. The complaints received by the ombudsman regarding CBC’s coverage of the events and its avoidance of the term “terrorist” were also discussed, including concerns about a memorandum received from CBC News director of journalistic standards George Achi.
The fact that the act by Hamas on Oct. 7 met the requirements of being described as a terrorist attack, including the degree of violence, the targeting of civilians, and the taking of hostages, was recognized in the report. However, it was noted by the ombudsman that there is no obligation to use the term “terrorist” and that describing the events accurately is the important aspect.
Despite parents in Parliament seeking an apology and further clarification of the reporting, CBC President Catherine Tait firmly defended the station’s coverage, stating “I will not apologize because [CBC’s] journalism is among the finest in the world.” The comments came during questioning by Conservative MPs who took issue with the station’s coverage of the Israel-Hamas war, asserting that CBC was “protecting Hamas in the court of public opinion” by not referring to it as a terrorist group.