Terrorism and the Media
Terrorism and the Media
Terrorism has played a role affecting civilization for a hundred of years. The acts of violence have aims and objectives which intend on being achieved by the perpetrators themselves, or by the organizations that support these acts. With the aid of the present day media, acts of terrorism are now becoming designed to grasp the attention of the entire world and compel a terrorist organization's message into the spotlight for the whole world to look at. Reasons and purpose for attacks are often derived from the news so what better way for a terrorists organization to relay there message than the news.
Most recently affecting the U.S were the events occurring on September 11th. People have interest in the events occurring all over the world, and the media will portray the message however they can. Within minutes of the first tower being struck, the devastation spread around the world, and was on every television channel for days. Around the world newspapers had front page news coverage of the attacks. The Twin Towers had been destroyed by an unknown enemy and its effects were broadcasted globally. The mass media are basically the spokesmen of the terrorists, the transmitters of information globally to a world audience. The September 11 attacks were designed for the media, and the achievement of the terrorists activities were announced for them to see through the misery and suffering of those affected by the attacks.
Albert Bandura stated: "Terrorists try to exercise influence over targeted officials on nations through intimidation of the public and arousal of sympathy for the social and political causes they expose. Without widespread publicity, terrorist acts can achieve neither of these effects." (Bandura, Albert qtd. In Nacos 1). Terrorists need the news media to get the publicity, and the media is a willing to get their message across. The news media is a crucial component to terrorism. In knowing that, a set of standards
Terrorism has played a role affecting civilization for a hundred of years. The acts of violence have aims and objectives which intend on being achieved by the perpetrators themselves, or by the organizations that support these acts. With the aid of the present day media, acts of terrorism are now becoming designed to grasp the attention of the entire world and compel a terrorist organization's message into the spotlight for the whole world to look at. Reasons and purpose for attacks are often derived from the news so what better way for a terrorists organization to relay there message than the news.
Most recently affecting the U.S were the events occurring on September 11th. People have interest in the events occurring all over the world, and the media will portray the message however they can. Within minutes of the first tower being struck, the devastation spread around the world, and was on every television channel for days. Around the world newspapers had front page news coverage of the attacks. The Twin Towers had been destroyed by an unknown enemy and its effects were broadcasted globally. The mass media are basically the spokesmen of the terrorists, the transmitters of information globally to a world audience. The September 11 attacks were designed for the media, and the achievement of the terrorists activities were announced for them to see through the misery and suffering of those affected by the attacks.
Albert Bandura stated: "Terrorists try to exercise influence over targeted officials on nations through intimidation of the public and arousal of sympathy for the social and political causes they expose. Without widespread publicity, terrorist acts can achieve neither of these effects." (Bandura, Albert qtd. In Nacos 1). Terrorists need the news media to get the publicity, and the media is a willing to get their message across. The news media is a crucial component to terrorism. In knowing that, a set of standards
Cited: Alexander, Yonah, and Richard Latter, ed. Terrorism & the Media. New York: Brassey 's (US), Inc., 1990. Lockyer, Adam. Terrorism and the Media. 18 Aug 2003. (P.1-6) Miller, Abraham H., ed. Terrorism the Media and the Law. New York: Transnational Publishers, 1982. Nacos, Brigitte L. Terrorism and the media. New York: Columbia University Press, 1994. Paletz, David L., and Alex P. Schmid, Eds. Terrorism and the Media. Sage: Newbury Park, 1992. (P. 24) Terrorism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism.