Chapter 4

Babette Protz

University of South Carolina

Lancaster

TERRORISM AND THE MEDIA

Discuss the role of the media in constructing social reality.

Explain the tension between security forces and the media.

Describe how the media can be viewed as a weapon.

Explain how news frames are used present a story.

Describe the special relationship between terrorism and television.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: CHAPTER 4

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Explain how the Internet has impacted terrorism.

Summarize various positions about bias in the news media.

Define the contagion effect. Debate the issues of freedom of the press

and censorship.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: CHAPTER 4

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This is the way human beings share stories; it is not merely the product of entertaining fiction.

Consider the following videos.

PASSING OF STORIES

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcdnf0Ckxmc&feature=related United 93 (2006) hijacking ending scene

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA_2teLmm1Q&feature=player_embedded World Trade Center (Movie) - WTC collapse

PASSING OF STORIES

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Discussion: Considering there were no survivors from the

crash of United 93, a lot of creative license was taken to create the film. Do you view this film as a tribute or chance for financial gain?

The attack on and the collapse of the WTC were shown repeatedly for a number of days. This film, like the previous film dramatized the tragedy. Do you think the film should have been made?

How do the films clips change your view of terrorism? Support your position.

PASSING OF STORIES

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Media’s presentation of terrorism is dominated by several simplified stories, presented on 24 hour cable news networks

Media exaggerates the threat of WMD Media uses simple catchphrases to

popularize a point “Broken borders” “War on terrorism”

MEDIA MISCONCEPTIONS

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5Xrob_IBy0

Discussion: What were your thoughts on this video clip? Do

you see this as promoting one-sided thought or providing valuable information?

Could this be viewed as propaganda increasing fear of terrorism? Support your position.

MEDIA OF TERRORISM

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Media social constructions often run counter to governmental objectives and policies

Police and military perceive themselves to be the forceful extension of democracy They think reporters are only trying to gather

sensationalistic stories

Embedded reporters Pentagon invited journalists to join combat units The results were partially realized

MEDIA AND SECURITY FORCES

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Terrorists recognize the power of the media as a weapon Ayman al Zawahiri

Jihadists are keenly aware of the media’s ability to influence the social construction of reality They seek legitimacy for their movement They want to spread their message and

increase sympathy for their militant interpretation of religion

Their opponents are targeted for intimidation

MEDIA AS A WEAPON

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Reporting patterns are packaged in segments called news frames Purpose is to assemble words and pictures to

create a pattern surrounding an event Creates a narrative for a deadly drama Characters are introduced, heroes and villains

are defined, and victims become the suffering innocents

NEWS FRAMES

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News frames help “mediatize” the presentation of terrorism Media shapes the way an event is

communicated

News frame is one of the least understood aspects of broadcast journalism because its complexity goes unnoticed

NEWS FRAMES

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Reporting frameDominant frame Conflict frameContention frame Investigative frameMythic frameCampaigning frame

Reportage frameCommunity service

frameCollective interest

frameCultural recognition

framesMythic tales frames

TYPES OF FRAMES

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American television presented only one news frame after 9/11 Patterning the attack as a clash of civilizations Suggesting that only a military response would

stop future attacks Television called in a variety of terrorism

experts who reflected the single view Radio was even worse, engaging in

sensationalistic propaganda

BEATING THE WAR DRUM

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http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/ParkB

Discussion Question: The video addresses First Amendment rights in

regard to rights of the media. Do you agree or disagree the media should have free reign over broadcasting information leaked to them on an ongoing investigation.

Consider what could be considered as “trial by media” in regard to Richard Jewell – hero – suspect – innocent.

OLYMPIC PARK BOMBING MEDIA LEAKS

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Focus is improperly centered on military and law enforcement action overseas

Media has virtually ignored domestic security issues

Nacos’s study American news media did not believe there was

a need to focus on domestic security Televisions’ preference for sensational events

BEATING THE WRONG DRUM

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Barber calls the twenty-four-hour news networks the infotainment telesector Media flourishes on one overriding factor:

entertainment

The infotainment telesector is not geared for depth; it is designed to create revenue

Negative effect on homeland security

INFOTAINMENT TELESECTOR

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Control of the drama pattern was held in a Western monopoly until recently Al Manar television presented a sympathetic

view of the al Asqa uprising

Television makes the viewing audience participants in a terrorist attack

Television seeks drama, and terrorism provides an unfolding dramatic event

TELEVISION DRAMA

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Television tends to portray women as minor figures in the male-dominated occupation

Nacos presents several images created by television news frames: Physical appearance frame Family connection frame Terrorist for the sake of love Women's lib frame Women as bored, frustrated housewives

GENDER STEREOTYPES

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Edward Herman (1999) focuses on the social construction of reality and political bias American media is part of a vast propaganda

machine promoting values and goals of corporations

David Baron (2004) takes a different approach, suggesting that bias appears on two levels Individual discretion of the reporter Public’s desire for the most captivating story

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7-WvfWXn7U&list=LPO8kMfXOdUFU&index=5&feature=plcp

Discussion: In the video it is noted that the media was broadcasting

everything that was going on in real time – allowing the terrorists to watch police movements. What are your thoughts in regard to this? Does it surprise you that media was active in covering a terrorist

attack in 1972? Should the games have continued?

MUNICH (MOVIE TRAILER)

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Large groups of people are portrayed without depth in American television

Media is spreading incorrect information about terrorists

Richard Miniter (2005) identifies 22 misconceptions about terrorism accepted as truth by most newspapers, magazines, and broadcasters

STEREOTYPES

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Steganography Embedding hidden information in a picture,

message, or another piece of information Message can be encrypted, placed in plain text

in a hidden file, or sent on a covert channel

Recruiting and training Salafi-jihadists using Web sites and e-mail to

make training manuals available

INTERNET AND TERRORISM

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Al Qaeda’s underground video network, known as As Sahaab, wages an effective propaganda campaign using the Internet

In response, the US launched al Hurra, an Arabic-language 24 hour satellite station Results have been disappointing United States has yet to capitalize on the

Internet for spreading propaganda

AS SAHAAB VERSUS AL HURRA

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Tim Groseclose and Jeffrey Milyo (2005) stated that the American media has a liberal bias

Fouzi Slisli (2000) says that the American media is full of oversimplifications and stereotypes

MEDIA OWNERSHIP

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Miniter believes that all media serve as a source of disinformation

The primary reasons are sloppy reporting, editors who fail to check facts, and rumors that are accepted as truth

Many of these media-based “truths” cannot stand the test of investigation

MINITER’S MEDIA MYTHS

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Some analysts wonder if media coverage inspires more terrorism

Many researcher believe that the fear generated by media reporting is contagious Anthrax attack Madrid commuter train bombing

THE CONTAGION EFFECT

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Paul Wilkinson (1997) believes that governments face three choices when it comes to maintaining freedom of the press and combating terrorism: Laissez-faire attitude Censorship Media self regulation

CENSORSHIP

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Democracy is threatened when the government openly censors information Censorship could do more to damage freedom

than the terrorist attacks themselves

Others believe that in times of emergency, information must be controlled to ensure the survival of the state America was fighting a new type of war and

some form of censorship was required

CENSORSHIP DEBATE

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Television and other media shape the way we view terrorism.

This creates quite a bit of controversy about the role of the media in reporting terrorism, and it frequently pits reporters against security forces.

All sides try to manipulate the media because of its extensive power.

CHAPTER TAKE AWAYS

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This means that there is extensive competition for presenting a point of view and a news frame, and it leads to charges of biases from all sides.

This is especially true in television because terrorism is a made-for-television drama.

Some scholars have called for limited censorship because the media is so powerful.

CHAPTER TAKE AWAYS

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