lessons learnt Terrorism and the Media

Alexander Spencer

This paper aims to answer two questions: What role does western media play in carrying the terrorist message?; and What would happen if the media made no reference to terrorism? The media is, of course, vital for a terrorist group as they provide the means of attracting attention and spreading its message. Considering terrorism as a communications strategy, the media have often been seen as the terrorist’s ‘accomplices’ or even their ‘best friend’ as they appear to provide the ‘oxygen of publicity’. yet it has also been noted that terrorists provide the media with emotional, exciting and bloody news which helps them sell their product. There are, therefore, mutual benefits for both and the relationship could be described as ‘symbiotic’. At the same time though, the media can also play an important part in countering terrorism. This paper examines the role of western media and illustrates how this news media, as the general public’s dominant source of information about terrorism, is central to the whole idea of what makes terrorism terrorism. The second part of the paper investigates the possibility that reduced media attention might actually increase terrorism.

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