Speaking about terrorism in a scientific way, it is inevitable to take into account the relationship between media and terrorism. As this essay wants to outline the main characteristics of how and why the transnational terror network Al Qaeda is designing its public appearance, a brief introduction into the general discussion on terrorism and the media is given in the following.
The relationship between these two actors is often described as symbiotic or even one of “considerable mutual benefit.” On the one hand the mass media can profit from the coverage of terrorist attacks because they can increase their circulation or viewing figures. On the other hand, terrorists achieve the wanted attention, convey the propaganda of the deed and inflict great fear on their target group(s). If successful, they can even mobilize wider support and influence political decisions of their enemies, in the way that they contribute to the desired escalation-spiral. This connection probably led former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to the famous words ‘oxygen of publicity’: A comparison, which illustrates the absolute need for terrorists to be covered in the media; for them it is as important as the air they breathe. Some theorists are sharing the opinion, that terrorism only becomes what it is through the media coverage: “Without the media aspect, terrorism remains one more cause of death, one of many, and not necessarily the most important or most dangerous one.” But despite the recognition of the so-called amplification effect, censorship is neither desirable nor realizable in open western societies. So it is often said, that we are here caught in a dilemma and the only thing, media can do is to weigh carefully, which incidents to show and to what extent. Furthermore they should regard it as their self-evident duty to foster the awareness of civilians and to provide a forum for reasonable discussion.
This essay shall portray one of the most prominent and surely most actual terrorist groups: Al Qaeda. It will give an overview about its media strategies, but as well will not forget the propaganda management, which tries to efficiently recruit new members and foster support for the group. At first, there will be given a brief oversight and explanation of the ‘metamorphosis of war’, a central condition for Al Qaeda’s engagement in propaganda, and how the terrorist group correlates with it.
Table of Contents
A) Introduction: The difficult relationship between media and terrorism
B) The voice of Al Qaeda: An analysis of its propaganda and media strategies
1. Conditions for Al Qaeda’s engagement in propaganda
1.1. The metamorphosis of war
1.2. The importance of communication, in particular propaganda for Al Qaeda
2. The evolution of Al Qaeda propaganda
2.1. Propaganda before 9/11
2.2. The change in propaganda strategies after 9/11
3. Al Qaeda and Al Jazeera
3.1. Presentation of ‘Arab’s CNN’
3.2. Osama bin Laden on the screen
3.3. The Western reaction
3.4. Assessment of the Al Jazeera case study
4. Internet on TV: The terror threat in German channels
C) Conclusion: An approach to counter - propaganda strategies
Objectives and Topics
This paper investigates the media strategies and propaganda techniques employed by the transnational terrorist network Al Qaeda. It examines the symbiotic relationship between terrorism and mass media, analyzing how the organization exploits communication channels to recruit members, disseminate ideology, and influence global political discourse.
- The impact of globalization and "netwar" on terrorist organization structures.
- The evolution of Al Qaeda's propaganda from internal communication to global media manipulation.
- The complex relationship between Al Qaeda and the news network Al Jazeera.
- Western policy responses to terrorist media appearances and the dilemma of censorship.
- The role of the Internet in modern terrorist threat communication.
Excerpt from the book
3.1. Presentation of ‘Arab’s CNN’
Often „vilified as a propaganda machine and Osama bin Laden’s mouthpiece“27, Al Jazeera is famous for the ambivalent views on it. While many regard the channel with distrust and suspicion, others clearly support Al Jazeera, not forgetting to mention that it spreads the values of democracy throughout the Arabian world. This chapter tries to examine the difficult relationship between Al Qaeda and Al Jazeera and its implication to Western politics. But it certainly cannot supply with an in-depth insight to the issue. Instead there will be outlined some crucial points, which are considered to reveal the main patterns concerning the topic.
Al Jazeera28 was launched on April 1996 and since then it is headquartered in Doha, Qatar. Sponsored generously by Sheikh Hamid bin Khalifa Al Thani with start-up funds of $ 137 million, the station grew rapidly and is today with an estimated number of 50 million viewers per day the biggest and probably most influential network in the Arabian world. It became notorious for presenting videotapes of prominent Al Qaeda leaders, lenting them airtime and providing them with a platform, where they could reach a huge audience. Hence, the “willingness [of Al Jazeera] to present terrorists as legitimate political commentators”29 has led former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to denounce Al Jazeera’s work ethics as ‘inaccurate and inexcusable’. Contrary to this notion, Al Jazeera expert Hugh Miles points out that the reproach of being totally biased or even supporting terrorism cannot be referred to the TV station. He puts forward that there has not been one single case of Al Jazeera’s correspondents having praised attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and that the channel never captured an attack on the U.S. Army “life”. Furthermore, according to Miles, Al Jazeera never has aired footage of a decapitation (despite the common belief). These are certainly arguments that undermine most prejudices the network has to face, but they are not sufficient to determine the channel’s position towards Al Qaeda.
Summary of Chapters
A) Introduction: The difficult relationship between media and terrorism: Discusses the symbiotic nature of the link between terrorist activities and media coverage, emphasizing the concept of the 'oxygen of publicity'.
B) The voice of Al Qaeda: An analysis of its propaganda and media strategies: Provides the core analysis of Al Qaeda's shift toward modern communication and network-based organization.
1. Conditions for Al Qaeda’s engagement in propaganda: Explores the 'metamorphosis of war' and how modern communication technology is vital for the survival and cohesion of decentralized terror cells.
1.1. The metamorphosis of war: Examines the theoretical shift to 'netwar' and how Al Qaeda combines modern organizational forms with traditional values.
1.2. The importance of communication, in particular propaganda for Al Qaeda: Details how propaganda serves as a central pillar for recruitment, funding, and defining Islamic identity.
2. The evolution of Al Qaeda propaganda: Outlines the historical progression of the organization's media efforts over time.
2.1. Propaganda before 9/11: Focuses on the group's early stages, where propaganda was limited to internal communiqués and operated within a 'cloudy information network'.
2.2. The change in propaganda strategies after 9/11: Analyzes the transition to global media attention and the tactical use of the Internet to disseminate messages to Western audiences.
3. Al Qaeda and Al Jazeera: Analyzes the controversial connection between the influential Arab news channel and the terrorist group.
3.1. Presentation of ‘Arab’s CNN’: Provides an overview of Al Jazeera's development and the criticism it faced for providing airtime to Al Qaeda leaders.
3.2. Osama bin Laden on the screen: Examines specific instances where Al Jazeera interviewed Bin Laden and the strategic impact of those broadcasts.
3.3. The Western reaction: Details the political debates in the US and UK regarding potential censorship of terrorist propaganda.
3.4. Assessment of the Al Jazeera case study: Reviews the long-term impact of Al Jazeera's coverage and the 'agenda-setting' power of the terrorist leadership.
4. Internet on TV: The terror threat in German channels: Explores how German media reacted to specific video threats in 2007 and the dilemmas faced by news moderators.
C) Conclusion: An approach to counter - propaganda strategies: Proposes methods to neutralize terrorist narratives, including unmasking propaganda and fostering serious discourse between cultures.
Keywords
Al Qaeda, Terrorism, Propaganda, Media Strategy, Al Jazeera, Netwar, Jihad, Communication, Globalization, Counter-propaganda, Internet, Censorship, Osama bin Laden, Ideology, Radicalization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this research paper?
The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the media and propaganda strategies employed by Al Qaeda to achieve its political and ideological goals.
What are the central themes explored in the text?
Key themes include the transformation of warfare into network-based conflict, the role of modern media in amplifying terrorist messages, and the interaction between terrorist organizations and professional news outlets like Al Jazeera.
What is the central research question?
The study seeks to understand how Al Qaeda uses media to influence public opinion, mobilize support, and respond to Western policies, while also addressing how these tactics can be effectively countered.
Which scientific method is applied here?
The paper uses an analytical and descriptive approach, synthesizing existing literature on terrorism and media, and conducting a case study analysis on Al Jazeera and recent German media coverage.
What is the focus of the main section of the paper?
The main body examines the historical evolution of Al Qaeda's propaganda, the mechanisms of their 'netwar' strategy, and the specific role of television and the Internet in disseminating their message.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is defined by terms such as Al Qaeda, propaganda, netwar, media strategy, and counter-terrorism measures.
How does Al Qaeda use the 'netwar' paradigm?
The organization leverages a decentralized, network-based structure to coordinate fluid and goal-oriented actions globally, relying on dense information systems rather than traditional hierarchy.
Why was Al Jazeera considered a crucial platform for Al Qaeda?
Al Jazeera provided the organization with a massive audience, circumventing traditional state-controlled media agreements and allowing Bin Laden to act as an 'agenda-setter' on the world stage.
What does the author propose as a counter-strategy?
The author suggests unmasking the fallacies within the propaganda, reinforcing democratic values, and utilizing media platforms to foster a serious discourse that undermines the 'oppression-theory' used by the group.
How did German media handle the terror threats in 2007?
The study observes that German news programs like 'heute-journal' and 'Tagesthemen' faced a professional dilemma, ultimately choosing to report on the threats while interrogating experts to justify the screening of extremist content.
- Quote paper
- Philipp Hauner (Author), 2007, The voice of Al Qaeda, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/123603
