NCJ Number
62604
Journal
Nation Volume: 218 Issue: 13 Dated: (MARCH 30, 1974) Pages: 392-394
Date Published
1974
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE MANIPULATION OF THE NEWS MEDIA BY TERRORISTS AND CRIMINALS IS EXAMINED WITH EMPHASIS ON THE KIDNAPPING OF PATRICIA HEARST AND SUBSEQUENT PRESS AND TELEVISION COVERAGE.
Abstract
THE MEDIA RESPONSE TO THE KIDNAPPING OF PATRICIA HEARST BY THE SYMBIONESE LIBERATION ARMY (SLA) INDICATES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A NEW BREED OF TERRORISM. UNLIKE PREVIOUS GROUPS, SUCH AS THE STUDENTS FOR A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, THE NEW TERRORISTS ARE HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED IN THEIR USE OF THE PRESS AND TELEVISION. THEY OPERATE IN SMALL GROUPS WHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO INFILTRATE, AND THEY RELY ON DRAMATIC PUBLICITY TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION AND FASCINATION OF MILLIONS OF CITIZENS. IN THE HEARST CASE, THE PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA HELPED FOSTER THE IMAGE THAT THE KIDNAPPERS SOUGHT. WITHOUT ANALYSIS OR EXTENSIVE COMMENTARY, THE MEDIA DISTRIBUTED THE COMMUNIQUES OF THE SLA AND PUBLICIZED THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM ORGANIZED AT THE DEMAND OF THE SLA. THE EFFECT OF SUCH PUBLICITY WAS TO NEUTRALIZE MUCH OF THE PUBLIC'S NORMAL REVULSION TO A LURID CRIME. INDEED, ANY HORROR OVER THE VIOLENT KIDNAPPING WAS REPLACED BY A CURIOSITY FOR THE UNFOLDING DRAMA. IN SAN FRANCISCO, THE MASSIVE COVERAGE AMPLIFIED THE SITUATION OF MISS HEARST AND GAVE AUTHENTICITY TO THE CLAIMS OF HER KIDNAPPERS. THE MEDIA HAVE BEEN POWERFUL FORCES IN ENCOURAGING SOCIAL FERMENT IN THE UNITED STATES BY PROVIDING PUBLICITY TO PROTESTS, RIOTS, AND CRIMES. THE ACTION-OBSESSED GROUPS GET MEDIA COVERAGE AND THE PEACEFUL CITIZENS DO NOT. INDEED, THE PUBLICITY SEEKING OF THE EXTREME GROUPS SUGGESTS THE OPERATION OF UNSTABLE PERSONALITIES, WITH INCREASING EVIDENCE THAT MANY 'POLITICAL' CRIMES ARE CARRIED OUT BY THE MENTALLY DISTURBED. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)