NCJ Number
63567
Date Published
1974
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE ROLE OF THE MASS MEDIA IN ENCOURAGING TERRORIST ACTIVITIES IS DISCUSSED AS PART OF A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.
Abstract
THE CAREERS OF SUCH MEN AS GEORGE LINCOLN ROCKWELL, FOUNDER OF THE AMERICAN NAZI PARTY, AND LEE HARVEY OSWALD, ASSASSIN OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY, MAY NEVER HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED IF NOT FOR MEDIA PUBLICITY. TERRORISTS ARE ADEPT AT MANIPULATING THE MEDIA AS JOURNALISTIC PRACTICES CONTINUE TO EMPLOY THE 'VIOLENCE IS NEWS' PHILOSOPHY. CARLOS MARIGHELLA, THE BRAZILIAN COMMUNIST, USED PUBLICITY NOT ONLY AS A RECRUITING DEVICE BUT ALSO AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CLOSE ORGANIZATIONAL COORDINATION AND DIRECT INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS. HE PROPOSED 'ACTION MODELS' SUCH AS KIDNAPPINGS AND EXECUTIONS WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF PERMITTING MALCONTENTS TO FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE. EXAMPLES OF THESE TACTICS IN THE U.S. AND CANADA ARE NOTED, PARTICULARLY THE ACTIVITIES OF BLACK ACTIVISTS AND QUEBEC SEPARATISTS. JOURNALISTS SHOULD STRIP THESE GROUPS OF THEIR IMAGE AS REVOLUTIONARY HEROES AND DEFENDERS OF THE 'PEOPLE' WHILE CONDUCTING INDEPTH ANALYSES OF SUCH GROUPS. THEY SHOULD ABANDON OBJECTIVITY FOR JOURNALISTIC SCORN SINCE NO GUERRILLA ORGANIZATION CAN SURVIVE IN FACE OF A HOSTILE POPULATION. (WJR)