Third Edition Understanding Terrorism Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues

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Third EditionUnderstanding TerrorismChallenges,
Perspectives, and Issues
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Chapter 11

• The Information Battleground
• Terrorist Violence and the Role of the Media

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Perspectives The Media and Government

• The Perspective of the Media
• Media spin.
• News triage.
• The Perspective of Governments
• Media as a source of concern.
• Reporting of terrorism as a source of concern.
• Some animosity.

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Exploring the Role of the Media

• Publicizing the Cause
• Media-oriented terrorism.
• Broad exposure via mass communications.
• Mass Communications and the Terrorists Message
• Print media.
• Radio.
• Television.
• The Internet.

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Exploring the Role of the Media(continued)

• The New Media
• New technologies and alternative broadcasting
  formats.
• Examples
• Political talk radio.
• Television news magazines.
• Electronic town meetings.
• Tabloid reporting.

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Exploring the Role of the Media(continued)

• Reporting Terrorism
• Market competition as a factor.
• Decisions
• Which incidents to report.
• How to report incidents.
• Terrorist-initiated labeling.
• Labeling enemies and targets.
• Scapegoating.

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Self-Titles of Violent Extremists
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War for the Information High Ground

• Using the Media
• Manipulation of the news scoop.
• Points of criticism.
• Journalists disseminating terrorist propaganda.
• Shift from objectivity to sensational opinion.
• Realignments within the political environment.
• Counterpointing criticism.

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War for the Information High Ground

• The Media as a Weapon
• Information is power.
• Case Hijacking of TWA Flight 847.
• The contagion effect.
• The Risk of Backlash
• Terrorists can diminish their influence via
  unpopular acts.
• Terrorists can strengthen the resolve of
  adversaries.

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Regulating the Media

• The Free Press
• Media gatekeeping.
• Journalistic self-regulation.
• Case British Official Secrets Act.
• The State-Regulated Press
• Routine intervention in reporting by the state.
• Media is used to benefit the state.
• Case Cults of personality.