PROJECT:
HOW THE MEDIA SHOULD COVER TERRORIST ATTACKS
Project Manager:
BEATRICE GUZZARDI
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PROJECT:
Project Manager:
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How the Media Should Cover Terrorist Attacks
Terrorism is a form of violent communication and thrives on publicity. As Brian Jenkins has put it, terrorism is like a stage and, following this logic, the media cover a crucial role in the terrorism script. If terrorism is meant to instil terror as a form of psychological warfare, it is clear that terrorists think of the media in a strategic way. While the sensationalism, graphic imagery and extensive live, close up coverage of gruesome acts of violence might bring higher ratings for media outlets, it might also amplify and “blow out of proportion” the attack, the perpetrators’ cause, and public fear over future attacks. Thus, how the media respond to acts of terrorism instantly after “the bomb goes off” becomes paramount for both the government and the terrorist organization. And finding a balance between reporting the news in a satisfactory way and avoiding becoming the tool of terrorism is an equally important mission for the country’s media outlets.
Given this background, the “How the Media Should Cover Terrorist Attacks” project will investigate specific media outlets in countries that have experienced recent terrorist attacks. It will focus on the media’s rhetoric (factual, inflammatory, conciliatory, apologetic...), the type of coverage they opted for (live updates, the number of interviews, the number and types of footage, the number of days they covered the violent act, and the follow up media attention dedicated to the topic of terrorism (the number of TV shows, talk shows, the number of times or instances of re-tweets, the number of instances in social media like Facebook).
