TerrorismContentDefinitionofterrorismFormsofterrorismterrorism’shistoryTherelationshipbetweenmediaandTerrorismWhatisterrorism?Terrorismisgenerallyconsideredtobeacriminalactionofviolenceordestructionthatisaimedatmembersofthepublicinordertospreadfearanddisruption,publicizetheterrorists’aimsandforceagovernmentororganizationtoactinacertainway.RosemaryH.T.O’KaneformsofTerrorismMainsixcategoriesCivildisorderPoliticalterrorismNon-PoliticalterrorismQuasi-terrorismLimitedpoliticalterrorismOfficialorstateterrorismFormsofTerrorismShootingExplosionHijackofPlanesSuicideAttackNuclearWeaponsBiologicalWeaponsBombingAssassinationSeveralterroristeventsafter19001.1995America,OklahomaCityBombing2.1995JapanSarinattackontheTokyoSubway3.1995IsraeliPrimeministerRabinwasassassinated4.1998America,ExplosionofTheAmericanembassyinTanzaniaandKenyaembassy5.2001America9116.2005UKLondonBombing7.2006MumbaiTrainBombings8.2009PakistanSerialExplosion9.2010IraqSerialExplosionTerrorismpastandpresentEarlyterroristgroups:holyterrorZealotsofJudeaAssassinsThugsTerrorismpastandpresentModernterrorism:anarchiststoleft-wingMiddleEastTerrorismEuropeanTerrorismLatinAmericanTerrorismTherelationshipbetweenmassmediaandterrorismIfthecontentofmediaofferstheaudienceisdeliveredorinfluencedbyanorganizationthathastheobjectivetodisturbsafety?Thisisthecasewithterrorism.(Hoffman)Inordertospreadfearandadvanceitspoliticalgoals,aterroristorganizationneedsthemassmedia.Thegoal,however,istospreadthemessagetomorepeoplethanjustthosewhoweredirectlyhitintheattack.TerroristsusingthemassmediaItwillbeaunsuccessfulactionforterrorismifnoonepayattentiontotheaction.“withoutthemedia’scoveragetheact’simpactisarguablywasted,remainingnarrowlyconfinedtotheimmediatevictim(s)oftheattack,ratherthanreachingthewider‘targetaudience’atwhomtheterrorists’violenceisactuallyaimed.”(Hoffman2006,174).mediaisusedformoraljustification,arousalofsympathyandintimidationofthepublic.’TerroristsusingthemassmediaTerrorism,inordertodemoralizeenemiessuchasgovernments.Gainingsympathyandcreatingfearandchaosarethemaininterestsofterroristsforwhichtheycanutilizethemedia.(PaletzandVinson1992,2).Theinsurgentwagesisdependedonthedirectorindirectuseofmeansofcommunicationsandnewstransmittedorallyinordertodemoralizethegovernment.MassmediaencouragesterrorismAsBritishPrimeMinister,MargaretThatcher,Mediaprovides‘oxygen’toterrorism.Terrorismandwesternnewsmediahaveaclosesymbiosisrelations.(Laqueur,1987)Pressfreedombecomes“intimidationfreedom.E.g.:Duringtheyearof1981to1986,thebiggestthreeAmericanTVstation:ABC,CBSandNBCreportmorethan2000piecesofnewsaboutterrorism.Theyreportedonterrorismbeyondtothetotalnumberofpoor,unemployment,racialinequalityandcrimenews.MassmedialeadstoterrorismupdateThemedia’ssaturatedreportingonterroristresultsintheindifferenceofthepublic,terroristspublicityisdeprived.(NeilC.Livingstone)Theirgoalistoattractmediaandpublic’sattention.Mediatendtomaketerroristactivitiesbecomecruellerandcrueller.MassmedialeadstoterrorismupdateE.g.:intheyearof1995,AumDoomsdayCultcarriedouttheSaringasattackontheTokyosubway.Thishadcausedmorethan5510casualties.TerrorisminInternet‘Themostdevastatingterroristactdrewmoreattentiontotheroleofnewcommunicationtechnologybyfacilitatingtheplayersininternationalterroristorganizationsandconspiracies.’(Nacos,2007)TerroristpropagandatoolsWebsiteChatroomsMessageboardsE-mailfacilitiesDiscussionquestionWhatdoesthemediacouldgetfromthereportsofterrorismevent?BibliographyHoffman,B.(2006),InsideTerrorism,NewYork:ColumbiaUniversityPressLaqueur,W.(2001),AHistoryofTerrorism,London:TransactionPublishers.Livingstone,NeilC(1986)Fightingback:winningthewaragainstterrorism.LexingtonBooksNacos,B.L.(2007).Mass-MediatedTerrorism:TheCentralRoleoftheMediainTerrorismandCounterterrorismLondon:Rowman&Littlefield.