As wars rage and public opinion becomes increasingly divided, the role of a national broadcaster matters more than ever. CBC is not just another news outlet; it’s funded by Canadians, for Canadians. When it pledges “balanced” coverage, that promise warrants careful examination. And since October 7, I’ve been asking a simple question:
Is CBC truly giving us the full picture of the Middle East war?
Who Am I to Ask This Question?
I’m not a journalist or an academic. If any title fits, it’s this: a scholar of the CBC. Why? Because I listen to CBC almost 24/7—whether I’m in Montreal or Jerusalem.
Most people are unaware that CBC Radio One can be streamed online, replayed via podcasts, and accessed through archived programs, many of which include transcripts. If I miss a show in Montreal, I catch it later from Vancouver. Over time, this habit has given me a panoramic view of CBC programming.
Since October 7, my ears have been tuned sharply to how CBC covers the war involving Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, the Houthis, and Iran, with Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt in supporting roles. And what I’ve heard has troubled me.
Why Write This Now?
I’ve taken my concerns directly to CBC leadership. I wrote to then-CEO Catherine Tait, who forwarded my letter to Brodie Fenlon, head of CBC News. His response? CBC strives for balance.
A fair aspiration, but is that what we’re hearing?
Balance isn’t just about tone. It’s about which stories get told, how they’re framed, and whose voices shape the narrative. That’s where things get complicated.
What Does “Balanced” Mean?
CBC’s own style guide claims neutrality, but neutrality is not a static rulebook; it’s a daily editorial choice. Critics from both sides of this conflict have raised concerns:
From the Pro-Israel Perspective:
- Downplaying Hamas’s role as a terrorist organization and its October 7 atrocities.
- Using softer language for massacres (“incidents,” “militant attacks”).
- Focusing heavily on Palestinian suffering while minimizing Israeli trauma and hostage crises.
- Featuring a few Israeli voices, often in a defensive posture.
From the Pro-Palestinian Perspective:
- Leaning on Israeli or Western official sources.
- Labelling all fighters as “terrorists,” reinforcing the Israeli government’s framing.
- Underreporting the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and avoiding critique of Canada’s foreign policy.
CBC insists it seeks balance. But does its coverage reflect that? Let’s look at the evidence.
A Headline Scan: Patterns That Speak Volumes
On August 12, I searched “CBC coverage of Middle East crisis.” Here’s what dominated:
- “7 children killed in Israeli strike while lining up for food”
- “Health officials say Israeli airstrikes, gunfire leave 60 dead in Gaza”
- “Canadian doctors work in Gaza as fuel shortages threaten lives”
These are tragic stories, no question. But patterns matter:
- 10 of 12 headlines in my scan focused on Palestinian casualties or humanitarian crises.
- None focused on Israeli hostage families, October 7 survivors, or ongoing rocket fire that forces Israelis into bomb shelters.
Where are those stories? They exist on platforms like IsraelRealTime and IDSF Briefings, but they rarely surface in CBC’s lead coverage.
If balance is the goal, shouldn’t Canadians see both dimensions of this war with equal depth?
Case Study: Front Burner and Framing Choices
CBC’s flagship podcast, Front Burner, recently tackled Netanyahu’s trip to Washington and the Gaza aid crisis. Here’s an excerpt:
Jayme Poisson: “Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington, meeting Trump and U.S. lawmakers… What have you made of Netanyahu’s trip?”
Meron Rapoport: “Netanyahu, after the war on Iran—which was described as a success—sees an opportunity to end the war and go to early elections. But his legacy is preventing a Palestinian state, so that stands in the way.”
My concern: Why highlight Netanyahu’s electoral calculus while downplaying the strategic significance of U.S.-Israeli military cooperation in Iran, a development that reshaped regional dynamics
Later, Poisson pivots:
“Now, I’m hoping we can focus on the suffering in Gaza and the monstrous system of aid distribution.”
Coverage of Gaza’s suffering is essential. Equally essential, however, is reporting on Israel’s reality, the trauma of October 7, families of 120 hostages still pleading for their loved ones, and the security dilemmas that drive Israeli decisions.
Finally, consider the guest: Meron Rapoport, a respected journalist, but affiliated with Local Call, a publication that often criticizes Israeli policy. His perspective is valid. But where was the counterbalance?
Another Example: As It Happens
CBC’s long-running program, As It Happens, offered a similar framing. In one recent transcript, an Israeli airstrike is described in vivid humanitarian detail, while the preceding context, a barrage of rockets targeting Israeli civilians, receives a passing mention.
This isn’t about denying Palestinian suffering. It’s about context. When a story begins with dead children and fails to reveal the reason for military action, audiences are left with a partial truth.
Why This Matters for Canadians
CBC is not a private outlet chasing clicks. It is a publicly funded broadcaster shaping national discourse. Its coverage influences:
- Public Opinion: Canadians rely on CBC for authoritative reporting. Imbalanced coverage skews perceptions of a complex conflict.
- Policy Debates: When citizens hear only part of the story, pressure builds on Ottawa to act without full context.
- Social Cohesion: In a time of rising antisemitism and Islamophobia, selective storytelling deepens divisions.
Canadians deserve coverage that informs, not inflames.
What’s Missing and Where to Find It
CBC leadership says they aim for fairness. Yet when headlines overwhelmingly frame Israel through criticism and Gaza through human tragedy, something feels incomplete.
If you want a fuller picture, here are resources worth exploring:
- IDSF Daily Briefings: Open-source security updates from Israel.
- Israel RealTime: Real-time reporting on Israeli society during wartime.
- CBC Program Archives: Review the transcripts and make your own decision.
A Reflection from Tamuz
In Jewish tradition, the month of Tamuz is linked to clarity of vision (Zohar). Perhaps that’s what we need now, clarity, not distortion.
And here’s John Donne’s timeless reminder, later echoed by Hemingway:
“Never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
This war diminishes us all, Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish, Muslim, secular. But when public media loses clarity, citizens lose vision. We deserve more than selective storytelling. We deserve the truth.
For a Broader Perspective