CBC/Radio-Canada has officially modified its editorial guidelines concerning the description of the September 11, 2001, attacks. Historically, the broadcaster’s internal standards prohibited journalists from labeling events as 'terrorism' or 'terrorist attacks' unless they were directly quoting a third party or official source. This policy was designed to maintain a neutral, objective tone in news reporting.

Following significant public backlash and pressure regarding how the network characterizes the 9/11 events, the broadcaster has decided to make an exception. Under the updated policy, the network will now permit the use of the term 'terrorism' specifically in the context of the 9/11 attacks. The decision marks a shift in how the public broadcaster approaches sensitive historical events, moving away from a strict policy of attribution toward a more descriptive approach for this specific incident.

While the network has not indicated that this change will apply to all future events or other global conflicts, the move acknowledges the unique status of the 9/11 attacks in public discourse. The broadcaster maintains that its core mission remains providing balanced and factual reporting, but this adjustment reflects a response to audience expectations regarding the framing of widely recognized acts of violence.