chapter eighteen: the media: affecting terrorism and homeland security

Chapter Eighteen:Chapter Eighteen:

The Media: Affecting The Media: Affecting Terrorism and Homeland Terrorism and Homeland

SecuritySecurity

Television and Terrorism: A Television and Terrorism: A Cozy RelationshipCozy Relationship

Over the years, several studies have pointed Over the years, several studies have pointed to the close relationship between terrorism to the close relationship between terrorism and televisionand television

The purpose of television newsThe purpose of television news News programming provides information, News programming provides information,

but it is also designed to keep audiences but it is also designed to keep audiences watchingwatching

One of the purposes is to keep the audience One of the purposes is to keep the audience primed with emotion and excitementprimed with emotion and excitement

Terrorism is perfect for this scenario Terrorism is perfect for this scenario because it is so dramaticbecause it is so dramatic

Television and Terrorism: A Cozy Television and Terrorism: A Cozy RelationshipRelationship

Basic elements of television dramaBasic elements of television drama Viewers are encouraged to “stay Viewers are encouraged to “stay

tuned”tuned” The station provides an expert The station provides an expert

interpreterinterpreter The reports give the illusion that The reports give the illusion that

somehow the audience and be in somehow the audience and be in control of the situationcontrol of the situation


David Levin and news framesDavid Levin and news frames The purpose of a news frame is to The purpose of a news frame is to

assemble words and pictures to assemble words and pictures to create a pattern surrounding the create a pattern surrounding the eventevent

Television and other media “spin” Television and other media “spin” the event so that it can be the event so that it can be translated into the understanding translated into the understanding of popular cultureof popular culture


H.H.A. CooperH.H.A. Cooper The reason that television is so quick to The reason that television is so quick to

pounce on a terrorist event is that its pounce on a terrorist event is that its audience want to watch itaudience want to watch it

Douglas KelnerDouglas Kelner According to Kelner, after September According to Kelner, after September

11, American television presented only 11, American television presented only one news frame: The attack was a clash one news frame: The attack was a clash of civilizations, and only a military of civilizations, and only a military response would stop future attacksresponse would stop future attacks


Benjamin Barber and the Infotainment Benjamin Barber and the Infotainment TelesectorTelesector The Infotainment Telesector is not geared for The Infotainment Telesector is not geared for

depth, it is designed to create revenuedepth, it is designed to create revenue The nature of the Infotainment Telesector and The nature of the Infotainment Telesector and

the desire of the networks to beat other the desire of the networks to beat other networks have a negative effect on homeland networks have a negative effect on homeland security. Competing news outlets may leak security. Competing news outlets may leak documents, unveil confidential plans, and documents, unveil confidential plans, and expose vulnerabilities.expose vulnerabilities.

Terrorists continually increase the dramatic Terrorists continually increase the dramatic violence to attract coverageviolence to attract coverage


The Media as a Force The Media as a Force MultiplierMultiplier

American media and Arab mediaAmerican media and Arab media America broadcasted its versions America broadcasted its versions

of truth both domestically and of truth both domestically and abroad, and American news has abroad, and American news has always been self-absorbedalways been self-absorbed

In the 1990s a new Arab television In the 1990s a new Arab television network, al Jazeera, began network, al Jazeera, began broadcasting news from an Arab broadcasting news from an Arab perspectiveperspective

The Media as a Force MultiplierThe Media as a Force Multiplier

The Media as a Force MultiplierThe Media as a Force Multiplier

Terrorists use the media to reach audiences Terrorists use the media to reach audiences in a new wayin a new way At first, terrorists reached audiences with At first, terrorists reached audiences with

dramadrama As time went on, terrorists realized that As time went on, terrorists realized that

hostage dramas were made for televisionhostage dramas were made for television If terrorists could successfully manipulate If terrorists could successfully manipulate

the situation, they could portray both the situation, they could portray both hostages and themselves as victims while hostages and themselves as victims while police and military forces appeared to be police and military forces appeared to be aggressorsaggressors

The Media as a Force MultiplierThe Media as a Force Multiplier The media and the way the United The media and the way the United

States is viewsStates is views The growth of media outlets and The growth of media outlets and

competing perspectives on the competing perspectives on the news has had a huge effect on the news has had a huge effect on the way the United States is viewed way the United States is viewed around the world, and this effect around the world, and this effect extends to perceptions of extends to perceptions of terrorism and America’s foreign terrorism and America’s foreign policypolicy

The Media as a Force MultiplierThe Media as a Force Multiplier Al ManarAl Manar

Organizations have learned they Organizations have learned they can manipulate the media to get can manipulate the media to get their message acrosstheir message across

Hezbollah projected a positive Hezbollah projected a positive image on al Manarimage on al Manar

Power came to Hezbollah in the Power came to Hezbollah in the form of visual imagesform of visual images

The Media as a Force MultiplierThe Media as a Force Multiplier Gadt Wolfsfield and media victoriesGadt Wolfsfield and media victories

Struggles for the way a battle is reported Struggles for the way a battle is reported are as important as combat on the are as important as combat on the battlefield. Neither side wants to be battlefield. Neither side wants to be portrayed as the aggressorportrayed as the aggressor

The media are the primary tools for The media are the primary tools for demonizing the enemy, and the most demonizing the enemy, and the most powerful tool is the way television reports powerful tool is the way television reports casualties. One side presents its own casualties. One side presents its own casualties in compassionate and horrific casualties in compassionate and horrific terms, while casualties on the other side terms, while casualties on the other side are described as mere statisticsare described as mere statistics

The Media as a Force MultiplierThe Media as a Force Multiplier Peace effortsPeace efforts

The only time peace becomes The only time peace becomes dramatic is when heads of state dramatic is when heads of state sign major treatiessign major treaties

The Media as a Force MultiplierThe Media as a Force Multiplier The Internet as a force multiplierThe Internet as a force multiplier

The Internet is one of the most important The Internet is one of the most important force multipliers easily available to force multipliers easily available to terroriststerrorists

The Internet is a powerful tool for The Internet is a powerful tool for opposition forces in authoritarian regimesopposition forces in authoritarian regimes

Terrorists run their own websites, Terrorists run their own websites, sometimes hack into exiting sites to sometimes hack into exiting sites to broadcast propaganda videos, and also broadcast propaganda videos, and also imbed pixels in legitimate websites to imbed pixels in legitimate websites to transmit secret communicationstransmit secret communications

The Media as a Force MultiplierThe Media as a Force Multiplier The Cinema as a force multiplierThe Cinema as a force multiplier

Movies create popular images that Movies create popular images that can be used for the purposes of can be used for the purposes of propagandapropaganda

Security Forces vs. Security Forces vs. ReportersReporters

Security Forces vs. ReportersSecurity Forces vs. Reporters Security forces conflicting with the mediaSecurity forces conflicting with the media

Terrorists want to use the media as a Terrorists want to use the media as a psychological weapon, while governments psychological weapon, while governments seek to harness the power of the media for seek to harness the power of the media for social controlsocial control

Law enforcement and military goals conflict Law enforcement and military goals conflict directly with the needs of the mediadirectly with the needs of the media

Officially, police and security forces Officially, police and security forces recognize the media’s right to report recognize the media’s right to report information, but they develop elaborate information, but they develop elaborate plans to control reportingplans to control reporting

Security Forces vs. ReportersSecurity Forces vs. Reporters Media controlMedia control

Richard Schaffert believes that democracies can Richard Schaffert believes that democracies can lower the amount of terrorism by implementing lower the amount of terrorism by implementing some form of media control, and he argues that some form of media control, and he argues that such actions do not endanger democracysuch actions do not endanger democracy

The United States has two problems with this The United States has two problems with this approach: approach: Many Americans see terrorism as a distant Many Americans see terrorism as a distant

problem that does not require such measures problem that does not require such measures as censorshipas censorship

Most Americans abhor the idea of censorshipMost Americans abhor the idea of censorship

Security Forces vs. ReportersSecurity Forces vs. Reporters Competing and contradictory roles of Competing and contradictory roles of

the mediathe media The media control the flow of The media control the flow of

information while simultaneously information while simultaneously making the news interesting making the news interesting enough to “sell”enough to “sell”

Security Forces vs. ReportersSecurity Forces vs. Reporters BassiouniBassiouni

Police must respond to terrorist situations by Police must respond to terrorist situations by lessening their drama and psychological impactlessening their drama and psychological impact

Terrorism defies security force goals while Terrorism defies security force goals while catering to media goals. The issue of terrorism catering to media goals. The issue of terrorism heightens the animosity between the police and heightens the animosity between the police and the mediathe media

Reinforcing Bassiouni, research has shown Reinforcing Bassiouni, research has shown government officials seldom enjoy having their government officials seldom enjoy having their decisions analyzed and criticized by journalists for decisions analyzed and criticized by journalists for the benefit of a mass audience, but this is one of the benefit of a mass audience, but this is one of the major functions of media presentationsthe major functions of media presentations

Security Forces vs. ReportersSecurity Forces vs. Reporters Points of views about terrorism and the Points of views about terrorism and the

mediamedia Some members and supporters of the Some members and supporters of the

press see the media as a quasi-press see the media as a quasi-constitutional force keeping the constitutional force keeping the government in checkgovernment in check

Some want to limit press coverage during Some want to limit press coverage during terrorist eventsterrorist events

The media may exploit terrorism, but they The media may exploit terrorism, but they rarely convey messages favorable to rarely convey messages favorable to terrorismterrorism

Security Forces vs. ReportersSecurity Forces vs. Reporters The view of journalistsThe view of journalists

Journalists seem to fear Journalists seem to fear manipulation by terrorists as much manipulation by terrorists as much as they do government controlas they do government control

However, reporters maintain that in However, reporters maintain that in a democracy, all the people have a a democracy, all the people have a right to influence decision making. right to influence decision making. They can only do this when they are They can only do this when they are given unrestricted informationgiven unrestricted information

Security Forces vs. ReportersSecurity Forces vs. Reporters A counter viewA counter view

Terrorists have made the media their Terrorists have made the media their allyally

Reporting gives the illusion that Reporting gives the illusion that terrorists are extremely powerful, and terrorists are extremely powerful, and over-reporting causes widespread over-reporting causes widespread anxietyanxiety

The recent history of media research The recent history of media research suggests that terrorists and the media suggests that terrorists and the media have a symbiotic relationshiphave a symbiotic relationship

Security Forces vs. ReportersSecurity Forces vs. Reporters Terrorist theaterTerrorist theater

The media is filled with action and it is The media is filled with action and it is entertainingentertaining

However, research suggests that the However, research suggests that the coverage of terrorism is not helpful to coverage of terrorism is not helpful to terrorist groupsterrorist groups

Reporting terrorist events increases Reporting terrorist events increases the public’s knowledge about the public’s knowledge about terrorism, but builds little sympathy terrorism, but builds little sympathy for terroristsfor terrorists

Security Forces vs. ReportersSecurity Forces vs. Reporters The media serves the interests of the governmentThe media serves the interests of the government

Television generally ignores the motivations for Television generally ignores the motivations for violence, focusing instead on the violence itselfviolence, focusing instead on the violence itself

The method of coverage network was found to The method of coverage network was found to have a negative effect on terrorismhave a negative effect on terrorism

Television engenders no sympathy for terrorists Television engenders no sympathy for terrorists because coverage clearly portrays terrorism as because coverage clearly portrays terrorism as an illegitimate form of violencean illegitimate form of violence

The media often interpret events in favor of The media often interpret events in favor of governmentsgovernments

Does Reporting Make Does Reporting Make Terrorism Contagious?Terrorism Contagious?

Does Reporting Make Terrorism Does Reporting Make Terrorism Contagious?Contagious?

Allan MazurAllan Mazur Violent reports have a suggestive Violent reports have a suggestive

effect on violent behavioreffect on violent behavior News reports of suicides increase the News reports of suicides increase the

number of suicidesnumber of suicides The number of threats against nuclear The number of threats against nuclear

power facilities matched the number power facilities matched the number of news storiesof news stories

The media can affect public behavior The media can affect public behavior through suggestionthrough suggestion


M. Cherif BassiouniM. Cherif Bassiouni The media have become the The media have become the

vehicle for maximizing the vehicle for maximizing the psychological impact of terrorismpsychological impact of terrorism

Media-reported terrorism causes Media-reported terrorism causes more terrorism more terrorism

Philip SchlesingerPhilip Schlesinger The contagion theory is merely a The contagion theory is merely a

hypothesis of terrorist researchershypothesis of terrorist researchers Contagion theory is used to Contagion theory is used to

support the case for censorship support the case for censorship and that analysts who subscribe and that analysts who subscribe to it are merely trying to force to it are merely trying to force their opinions on those who can their opinions on those who can control the mediacontrol the media



The Internet and the contagion effectThe Internet and the contagion effect Contagion is magnified when rumors are Contagion is magnified when rumors are

spread through e-mails, and websitesspread through e-mails, and websites Copycat effectCopycat effect

The greatest proponents of contagion The greatest proponents of contagion theory argue that media reporting, theory argue that media reporting, especially television, leads to a copycat especially television, leads to a copycat effecteffect

The reason is that media reports The reason is that media reports encourage people to transform dark encourage people to transform dark thoughts into realitythoughts into reality

Censorship DebatesCensorship Debates

Censorship DebatesCensorship Debates Three choices when it comes to Three choices when it comes to

freedom of the press and terrorismfreedom of the press and terrorism To assume a laissez-faire, or To assume a laissez-faire, or

hands-off, attitudehands-off, attitude CensorshipCensorship Self-regulationSelf-regulation

Censorship DebatesCensorship Debates Juanita Jones and Abraham MillerJuanita Jones and Abraham Miller

Government restrictions on dissemination of news Government restrictions on dissemination of news do not violate the press’s rights during do not violate the press’s rights during emergency conditionsemergency conditions

Reporting and the freedom to report are not the Reporting and the freedom to report are not the only critical concerns in crises: The impact of the only critical concerns in crises: The impact of the media on the event and media interference with media on the event and media interference with police operations have also become central issuespolice operations have also become central issues

The press could legally be excluded from certain The press could legally be excluded from certain areas, especially when police procedures call for areas, especially when police procedures call for secrecy in an attempt to save livessecrecy in an attempt to save lives

The police have a right to place restrictions on The police have a right to place restrictions on the police, and the actions of the police deny the police, and the actions of the police deny neither free speech or a free pressneither free speech or a free press

Censorship DebatesCensorship Debates Philip SchlesingerPhilip Schlesinger

The media in Western democracies favor The media in Western democracies favor government stabilitygovernment stability

The media have worked to delegitimize terrorist The media have worked to delegitimize terrorist violenceviolence

The press has supported the government while The press has supported the government while condemning antigovernment violencecondemning antigovernment violence

Language is crucial, because it can serve to Language is crucial, because it can serve to either support or deny the legitimate right of a either support or deny the legitimate right of a political position to exist. Officially, media political position to exist. Officially, media language is used to criminalize terrorism. language is used to criminalize terrorism. Unofficially, it can serve to criminalize the issue Unofficially, it can serve to criminalize the issue that motivates terroriststhat motivates terrorists

Censorship DebatesCensorship Debates Shane KingstonShane Kingston

Terrorism caters to the mediaTerrorism caters to the media Aspects to a media strategyAspects to a media strategy

A press office has to spin events A press office has to spin events favorably so that actions can be favorably so that actions can be presented to the world’s press in a presented to the world’s press in a positive lightpositive light

Solicit support from media outlets Solicit support from media outlets that have already taken sidesthat have already taken sides

Censorship DebatesCensorship Debates International mediaInternational media

Another reason censorship is losing Another reason censorship is losing its appeal is that the press has truly its appeal is that the press has truly developed an international flavordeveloped an international flavor

The World Wide WebThe World Wide Web Technology has rendered debates Technology has rendered debates

about censorship moot, except when about censorship moot, except when a single nation seeks to keep its own a single nation seeks to keep its own media outlets under tight controlmedia outlets under tight control

chapter eighteen: the media: affecting terrorism and homeland security

Documents