NCJ Number
88648
Date Published
Unknown
Length
28 pages
Annotation
There should be no censorship in the coverage of terrorist violence by the media, but written or unwritten standards for media performance should be communicated to media personnel by media policymakers, and the police and media personnel should communicate with one another about their needs and concerns.
Abstract
Censorship or voluntary suppression of news coverage of a terrorist incident are far greater evils than terrorism. Less than thorough news coverage creates anxiety among citizens and undermines the credibility of both the media and the government. There is room for improvement by both the media and law enforcement in the handling of terrorist incidents. Greater coverage will mean law enforcement officials will have to be more informative and cooperative with the press. The press should be careful to act responsibly and be more diligent in pursuing stories related to the incident which may not be as provocative as the potentially violent and dramatic aspects of the incident. The media must be continually committed to giving stories balance and perspective. Reporting on such matters as the plight of the victims and the authorities are as important as the perspectives and intentions of the terrorists. Followup stories should not be neglected. Despite the view of most media personnel that terrorism should be treated on a case-by-case basis, general policy guidelines, whether written or not, should be communicated to front-line editors and reporters. The most important aspect of prior planning involves communication between police and media officials. Each must understand the responsibilities and constraints of the other. There should be informal sessions between a wide range of officers and media personnel on a regular basis. Certainly there should be discussions following incidents to review how each might have performed better. Eleven references are provided.