Terrorism is an extremely complex phenomenon which can involve a multitude of motives, strategies and actors. Even if terrorism is not an invention of the modern age but it has its roots in the ancient times, the contemporary forms of terrorism display special features. One of them is the “media-oriented terrorism” (Martin 2003: 281). It is linked to the emergence of mass media that allow a global and life coverage of terrorist acts.
This paper will examinate which role the media play for terrorism. How do the media treat the phenomenom of terrorism (chapter 2)? After a brief summary of guidelines of news media the major focus will lie on the coverage of terrorist incidents in reality. As another feature of the media’s perspective the governmental attempts to restrict the freedom of reporting will be described.
The second part of this paper will deal with the media’s role for terrorist strategies (chapter 3). What does media-oriented terrorism mean concretely?
Chapter 5 draws a conclusion from the precedent analysis, after chapter 4 has dealt with the delicate: What are the effects of the media’s involvement in terrorism?
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Media’s Perspective
2.1 The Basics: Professional Standards and News Criteria
2.2 Reporting on Terrorism in Reality: Grey Zones and ‘Painful Decisions’
2.3 The Limits of Journalism: Governmental Regulation
3. The Terrorist’s Perspective
3.1 The Terrorist’s Interest in the Media
3.2 The Adaption to the Media’s Criteria
3.3 Media Links and Channels
4. The Effects of the Media’s Involvement in Terrorism
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines the symbiotic and complex relationship between mass media and terrorism, exploring how media coverage influences terrorist strategies and how, in turn, terrorist groups manipulate media mechanisms to amplify their reach and impact. The work aims to analyze the intersection of professional journalistic standards and the economic pressures of the news industry.
- Professional standards vs. market-driven news competition.
- Media-oriented terrorism and the terrorist calculus for public attention.
- Governmental attempts to regulate the press during terrorist crises.
- The contagion effect and the role of modern communication technology.
- Ethical dilemmas in reporting on terrorist acts.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 The Basics: Professional Standards and News Criteria
Most professionals in the media field agree on some basic standards that should be applied by journalists and editorial teams who are providing news (Martin 2003: 297). These standards are: objectivity; fairness; and accuracy regarding the research done before publishing the news.
Concerning the coverage of terrorist acts there are also some guidelines that most journalists would agree to, at least in theory: a) Journalists should neither serve as spokesmen/ spokeswomen for the terrorists nor should they publish sheer propaganda without showing challenging points of view as well. b) Reporting should not heroizate or romanticize terrorism. c) Journalists should hold back certain information if their publishing would represent an “immediate danger to life and limb” (Martin 2003: 297). d) Journalists should never try to become active themselves in the process of crisis solution; their job is to report on the process but not to influence them.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction establishes the complexity of terrorism and introduces the concept of media-oriented terrorism as a defining feature of contemporary conflicts.
2. The Media’s Perspective: This chapter analyzes the professional standards of journalism and contrasts them with the economic imperatives and competitive pressures that define real-world reporting on terrorism.
3. The Terrorist’s Perspective: This section explores how terrorists strategically adapt to media criteria to manipulate public opinion, transport their message, and influence governmental policy.
4. The Effects of the Media’s Involvement in Terrorism: This chapter assesses the multifaceted consequences of media coverage, ranging from ethical issues and security risks to the theoretical contagion effect.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes the ongoing dilemma of the media-terrorism relationship, suggesting that self-regulation and moderate governmental control remain the most realistic approaches to managing this tension.
Keywords
Terrorism, Media, Journalism, Media-oriented terrorism, Public opinion, Propaganda, Gatekeeping, Governmental regulation, Terrorist calculus, Breaking news, Contagion effect, Ethical dilemma, Market competition, Reporting guidelines, Crisis management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The paper focuses on the reciprocal influence between terrorism and the media, investigating how terrorist groups utilize news channels to achieve their goals and how journalists navigate the tension between reporting and sensationalism.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The work covers professional news criteria, market-driven incentives for reporting, governmental efforts to control information, and the strategic adaptation of terrorists to media formats.
What is the main objective of this study?
The objective is to explore how mass media affects the dynamics of terrorism and to address the critical dilemma of whether extensive news coverage serves the public interest or inadvertently aids terrorist agendas.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author employs a qualitative literature review and analytical framework, primarily based on Gus Martin's "Understanding terrorism," supplemented by contemporary media theory and case study examples.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main sections delve into the journalistic guidelines versus practical constraints, the motivations behind terrorist media strategies, and the diverse negative and positive effects that media involvement creates in counter-terrorism contexts.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include media-oriented terrorism, terrorist calculus, gatekeeping, the contagion effect, and the balance between free press and governmental regulation.
How do journalists justify the 'realtime reflex' in reporting?
Journalists often feel pressured by the 'breaking news mentality' and market competition, fearing that if they do not cover a dramatic event, their competitors will gain an exclusive advantage.
What is meant by the 'ventilating effect' mentioned in the text?
The 'ventilating effect' refers to the potential for ongoing media coverage of a terrorist incident to reduce pressure on the terrorists, which in some scenarios might help save the lives of hostages.
- Citar trabajo
- B. A. Gitta Glüpker (Autor), 2008, Media and Terrorism, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/124570
