NCJ Number
128494
Editor(s)
Y Alexander,
R Latter
Date Published
1990
Length
159 pages
Annotation
These papers examine the impact of terrorism in democratic societies committed to freedom of press and explore the proper role of the media in dealing with terrorist activity.
Abstract
The papers are based on the Wilton Park Conference on Terrorism and the Media held in January 1988 and focus on the views of government officials, academic experts, and media representatives in three media environments: the United States, the United Kingdom, and Western Europe. The analyses consider issues such as whether news reports cause or encourage terrorism, whether terrorism would decline if the media ignored events, whether and when media coverage of an event should be delayed, the relationship between the media and the police, and whether legislation regarding media coverage of incidents is appropriate. The papers also consider the difference between responsible and irresponsible coverage, the relationship between the public's right to security and the right to be informed, and the propaganda aspects of terrorism. Chapter notes and appended research papers regarding news coverage of terrorism, reports of governmental task forces, and texts of the internal guidelines of four media organizations in the United States.