On August 2, 2024, CJPME confirmed that the CBC had taken significant corrective steps following our complaint about the airing of an official Israeli translation of Hamas fighters speaking to Israeli soldiers who had been taken captive on October 7, 2023.
CJPME’s original letter of complaint can be read here.
After lengthy exchanges between CJPME staff and senior management at the CBC, the outlet agreed to make necessary clarifications. The CBC’s “Corrections and Clarifications” page has been updated to read:
“On May 22, 2024, families of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks released an edited series of video clips that were shot Oct. 7. The video was provided to the Hostages Families Forum by the Israel Defence Forces. It shows Hamas militants with five Israeli female conscripts. Translation of the Arabic speech on the video was distributed with the video. Based on that translation, CBC News reported that one militant referred to the soldiers as "women who can get pregnant." CBC News did not independently translate the audio before broadcast and, in fact, that translation is in dispute.
A clarification note was added to all online versions of this reporting.
Clarifications were also broadcast on radio and television programs where the original story aired.”
It is alarming that the CBC would air an unverified, Israeli translation of Palestinians. This effectively spread an Israeli propaganda campaign. We are glad that the CBC has taken corrective measures, but we continue to insist on processes in the newsroom that will prevent repetitions of such a grave journalistic violation.
CJPME considers this a notable victory. It is exceptionally rare for Canada’s public broadcaster to make a sweeping admission of wrongdoing and to correct the record online as well as on radio and television.