CBC removes “terror” reference and adds context for CJPME
On July 19, 2024, CJPME sent a letter to the CBC about an Associated Press article published by the CJPME entitled: “U.S. shutters problem-plagued temporary aid pier in Gaza, claiming mission accomplished” published on July 17, 2024. In particular, CJPME took issue with the sentence: “Aid groups also were terrorized by attacks, from Hamas, gunmen who stripped convoys of supplies and the Israeli military.” While CJPME made a number of points about the article, CJPME foremost challenged CBC/AP’s use of the word “terrorized.”
The UN defines “terrorism” as criminal acts against civilians with the purpose to “intimidate a population or compel a government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing an act.” CJPME argued that, if indeed Hamas or unidentified gunmen had stolen aid, it would not be for any political purpose, but rather to feed starving people. As such, the characterization of such attacks as being by nature “terror” would be inaccurate. CJPME asked the CBC/AP to modify the sentence, such that the modifier “terror” not longer applied to Palestinian groups.
The CBC responded with a lengthy email which acknowledged several of the issues raised by CJPME, and explained that they had had a lengthy back-and-forth with AP to strengthen the article. In the end, CBC rewrote the paragraph in question to add attribution and other details to make the language more precise. It now reads:
“Everyone has agreed all along that land crossings are the most productive way to get aid into Gaza, but the Israeli military has routinely blocked routes and slowed deliveries due to inspections. Hamas, armed gunmen who stripped convoys of supplies and the Israeli military created dangerous conditions for aid workers, according to various aid groups, the U.N. and the U.S. More than 278 workers have been killed in the conflict, said Samantha Power, administrator of USAID.”
Notably, in addition to adding far more contextual balance to the paragraph, the CBC/AP removed the word “terrorized” (as applied to Palestinian groups) as requested by CJPME.
Omitting to mention the Nuseirat massacre is another example of Palestinian dehumanization
"First, while you merely give voice to Republican critics of the initiative, it would have been more appropriate to give other critics more space to make your article more balanced."
Read moreQuestions around assertions from CBC regarding aid in Gaza
"First, I note that your article does not provide a link to an account of Hamas attacking an aid convoy. If you have compelling, independent evidence of any such attack by Hamas, please provide a link for it. Otherwise, please remove the assertion as it would be inaccurate and/or unsupported."
Read moreViolent Israeli Settlers Are Not Activists
"I take issue with the article describing these extremist groups as 'activists' in sentences such as, 'Hundreds of activists set up tents at Kerem Shalom for several nights in early February to stop the delivery of aid' and 'as well as activists looting trucks and destroying supplies.' Calling these Israeli extremists who obstruct humanitarian aid and engage in looting 'activists' is incredibly misleading and whitewashes their unlawful actions. Please correct any reference of the groups as 'activists' and label them as 'extremists.'"
Read moreIsrael did not stop occupying the Gaza Strip after 2005
"Firstly, the term "Gazans" tends to erase Palestine as a place and Palestinians as a people. I would, instead, opt to title your headline "Why it's so hard to get humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.""
Read moreRecent article should name all those killed by Israel's strike on WCK and their countries of origin
What is lost here is that a Palestinian aid worker, Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, was also killed. If the other European and North American aid workers have their respective countries listed, then Saifeddin should too.
Read moreBalanced reporting on the famine in Gaza must include sources other than COGAT
"To include COGAT’s response but omit the original IPC report is unfair. Readers are left without reference to the essential document that is relevant to this discussion. To meet CBC’s fundamental principle of balance, reference to the report and a short description of its findings must be included in your article."
Read moreThanks for offering a range of perspectives on the genocide in Gaza
"Please continue to publish interviews and articles that offer a range of perspectives on what has become a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This time in history will be a black mark on the international community when we look back in the years to come."
Read moreCorrection needed to specify that Palestinians in Gaza aren't "food insecure", they're being starved!
"In that case, I would recommend alternating between the names listed above. Referring to Gaza and Palestine as an ambiguous “region” lacks precision and perpetuates Canadian media’s tendency to leave Palestine and its indigenous people unnamed."
Read moreCBC News Manitoba promptly edited obscure wording in recent article
On March 27, CJPME learned that CBC News Manitoba had made some changes to their article about the Mennonite Central Committee sending food to Gaza. The article repeatedly referred to the starvation crisis in Gaza as “food insecurity.” Some examples of their obscure wording can be found in the original letter addressed to the editors at CBC Manitoba. In one case, the term “food insecure” was removed from the article. In the other, CBC adjusted their wording:
The organization has five more shipments planned as the region continues to struggle with rising levels of hunger, in the wake of the war that began Oct. 7.
While CBC Manitoba did not make all our requested edits, we appreciate their prompt mitigation of poor word choice.