Mass media has significant influence in the society because they shape how people define and perceive major socio-economic and political aspects that occur in the world. Media are the primary source of information for many people, and they influence the thought and perception of the public. As a result, there has been a controversial debate on the relationship between mass media and terrorism, especially in the modern era that is characterized by the increased rate of terrorism. For instance, based on the report that was released by the U.S. Department of State, the world experienced about 35% increase in terrorist attacks and more than 80% surge in the number of people killed by terrorist between 2013 and 2014 (Fahmy, 2017). The substantial increases in terrorist attacks have made some people accuse the media of fueling terrorism in the modern society, especially based on how they cover terrorist events and activities. Even though mass media is contributing a lot to terrorism, especially through publicity, they can prevent terrorist attacks through objective and responsible reporting.
The relationship between Mass Media and Terrorism
The relationship between mass media and terrorism is one of the areas that have been well researched, especially when the rate of terrorist activities significantly increased in the whole world. Studies have found that there is a symbiotic relationship between mass media and terrorism (Doward, 2015). Although one of the major objectives of terrorist attacks is to cause massive casualties and the destruction of properties, they are also aimed at attracting the attention of the public and the global media (Anita, 2007). Terrorist are aware that they can raise mass fears when they draw the attention of mass media. With enhanced telecommunication technologies, a small act of terrorism reaches the global media audience, enabling terrorists to achieve one of their primary objectives of eliciting fear among the targeted groups. Media helps in creating mass publicity for terrorist organizations, as well as legitimacy for their actions (Kaiter, 2015). Therefore, terrorists are only able to achieve their objectives when they attract the attention of the mass media. Consequently, some people argue that terrorism will reduce significantly if the mass media ignore it.
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On the other hand, the media benefits a lot by covering stories that are related to terrorism. Mass media is aware that news on terrorist attracts public attention, leading to a substantial increase in viewer and reader ratings (Anita, 2007). Consequently, media organizations can make huge profits in the case of terrorist events. Media are determined to cover terrorist events that attract the attention of the public to enhance their ratings. Hence, the media is likely to extensively cover terrorist events to make more profits because they are always owned by profit-making organizations (Bilgen, 2012). As a result, there is a symbiotic relationship between mass media and terrorism, which makes it hard for journalists to strike a balance between security issues and attracting public attention. The symbiotic relationship between media and terrorism makes it complicated and challenging for the former to play an active role in the fight against terrorism.
Mass Media’s Contribution to Terrorism
First, one of how mass media contribute to terrorism is by giving terrorists the platform and opportunity to spread their propaganda. Mass media always give terrorist the free opportunity to spread their propaganda and to create extreme fear among the target population or group (Altheide, 2006). Terrorist organizations are aware that the media cannot ignore their activities and events and they utilize the chance to spread propaganda. As a result, terrorists can gain some level of global sympathy, even among people who are entirely against terrorists. Many terrorist organizations like Al-Qaida rely on propaganda to gain additional followers and to recruit new terrorists. Many people learn about terrorist organizations and their activities through mass media (Altheide, 2006). Therefore, mass media help in propagating terrorists’ propaganda, leading to an increase in terrorist attacks and activities.
Secondly, mass media contribute to terrorism by giving terrorist legitimacy. Terrorists always use mass media to gain legitimacy because their activities are often aligned with a given ideology or fight against the perceived enemy (Jetter, 2017). For instance, Al-Qaida has always used the argument that the USA is invading Arab and Islamic countries through armed conflict, which has led to the death of many innocent Muslims. Therefore, they use the media to persuade its followers and the world its actions are legitimate and that the organization is only dedicated to protecting the endangered Muslims. Fighting terrorism is complex and challenging because some terrorist organizations enjoy legitimacy, which is created by the media (Rather, 2012). Also, terrorist organizations use the media to gain legitimacy through some of the organizations that are supporting their activities, which may help in covering terrorists and accessing external funds from various entities. As a result, the media has helped some terrorist organizations to receive some levels of legitimacy, making hard to end terrorism in the whole world.
Besides, the irresponsible and insensitive coverage of terrorist attacks and activities is another way in which mass media is contributing to terrorism. Terrorism is always attractive boom to mass media coverage because of its ability to attract many viewers and to create a substantial increase in profit for media organizations (Jetter, 2017). Terrorism often has an attractive topic or subjects for the media such as blood, shocking footages, and human tragedy that easily attract the attention of the public. At the same time, violence is the main culture in the contemporary mass media, making terrorism to be attractive to many journalists (Fahmy, 2017). As a result, modern mass media organizations are profit-oriented, and they are willing to do anything that can lead to an increase in profits. Consequently, media coverage always favors terrorist and they help terrorist organizations to achieve their objectives such as instilling extensive fear and gaining legitimacy for their activities and deadly attacks that lead to massive loss of life and destruction of properties. Hence, the high level of irresponsibility and excessive profit-orientation of mass media organizations are some of the ways they are contributing to terrorism.
How Mass Media Prevent Terrorism
One of the strategies that are used by mass media to prevent terrorism is to give blackout to terrorist organizations, including their activities. Even though a few of the mass media organization are still doing this, mass media always refrain from publishing gruesome images that are linked to terrorist attacks. On the contrary, they are dedicated to only publishing objective facts that relate to a given terrorist activity (Kapadia, 2016). Some mass media organizations only public objective facts such as the location of terrorist attacks, the number of people who have been killed or injured, and the status or condition of the attack. Such objective facts help the public to make informed decisions, especially concerning their safety and what they should do to help in enhancing the security. Besides, mass media helps in preventing terrorism by avoiding sensationalizing the news.
Besides, media play an active role by condemning terrorists and their activities. Mass media always inform the public about the dangers of terrorism and why people should not join such organizations. The media also increase vigilance among the people by informing them about the places that are likely to be attacked and some of the suspected terrorists in a given location (Cohen, 2005). Furthermore, the mass media work in collaboration with the law enforcement agency to transit warming to the public about the potential terrorist attacks. Mass media can prevent terrorism by disseminating useful information to the public. Therefore, objective coverage is one of how mass media help in countering terrorism.
Conclusion
The desire to attract public attention and to make profits make mass media to contribute a lot to the global terrorism. Journalists always focus on topics or events that can draw public attention, which end up causing a significant increase in viewer and reader rating. As a result, the desire to make profits is making mass media to help terrorists in propagating their propaganda and gaining legitimacy for what they do, even when it is hurting millions of people. The symbiotic relationship between mass media and terrorism makes it hard for the latter to engage in the fight against terrorism actively. Nevertheless, some level, mass media assist in the prevention of terrorism. The media should maintain objective reporting to reduce terrorism in the whole world.
References
Altheide, D. L. (2006). The mass media, crime, and terrorism. Journal of International Criminal Justice , 4 (5), 982-997.
Anita, P. (2007). Mass media and Terrorism. Medij Istraž Journal , 13(1), 5-22.
Bilgen, A. (2012). Terrorism and the media: A dangerous Symbiosis . Retrieved from http://www.e-ir.info/2012/07/22/terrorism-and-the-media-a-dangerous-symbiosis/
Cohen, R. (2005). Media coverage of Acts of terrorism: Troubling episodes and suggested guideline. Canadian Journal of Communication, 30(3).
Doward, J. (2015, August 1). Media coverage of terrorism ‘leads to further violence. The Guardian . Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/aug/01/media-coverage-terrorism-further-violence
Fahmy, S. S. (2017). Media, Terrorism, and Society: Perspectives and Trends in the Digital Age. Journal of Mass Communication and Society , 6(2).
Jetter, M. (2017). The effect of media attention on terrorism. Journal of Public Economics , 153 , 32-48.
Kaiter, E. H. (2015). Globalization, Modern Terrorism and Media. AUSH-LLS , 12 , 165-173.
Kapadia, A. (2016, August 22). The Media Can Be Our Biggest Ally In The Fight Against Terrorism. Forbes . Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2016/08/22/the-media-can-be-our-biggest-ally-in-the-fight-against-terrorism/#5c33a8924d3b
Rather, D. (2012, September 11). Media's balancing act with terrorism. CNN. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/11/opinion/rather-media-and-terrorism/index.html
