NCJ Number
62273
Date Published
1979
Length
22 pages
Annotation
THREE PROFESSIONALS--A BROADCASTER, A BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION (BBC) REPORTER, AND A BBC NEWS EDITOR--DISCUSS THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN INFORMING THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT TERRORISM.
Abstract
THE FUNCTION OF THE MEDIA TO ADDRESS AND INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS DISCUSSED CONCERNING THE PERIODS DURING WORLD WAR I AND WORLD WAR II. THE IMPACT OF RADIO NEWS REPORTS DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR WAS MOSTLY BENEFICIAL. HOWEVER, TELEVISION COVERAGE DURING THE VIETNAM CONFLICT HAD A MOSTLY UNSETTLING IMPACT ON THE PUBLIC. THE EDITORIAL PROBLEMS OF HANDLING COVERAGE OF A RUTHLESS TERROR CAMPAIGN, SUCH AS THE SITUATION IN NORTHERN IRELAND, ARE DISCUSSED BY THE NEWS EDITOR OF THE BBC IN NORTHERN IRELAND. RADIO BULLETINS ARE TRANSMITTED 15 TIMES EACH DAY BY THE BBC IN ADDITION TO A 25-MINUTE TELEVISION PROGRAM DAILY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE EDITOR'S MAIN CONCERN IS ACHIEVING AN EQUITABLE BALANCE BETWEEN REPORTING THE VIOLENCE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES AND REPORTING THE NORMAL EVENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN IRELAND. THE BBC MUST ABIDE BY THE LAW BUT MANY PROBLEMS ARISE WITHIN THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK, SUCH AS THE ISSUE OF INTERVIEWING A TERRORIST. THIS DECISION IS LEFT TO THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL; SINCE 1971 TWO SUCH INTERVIEWS HAVE BEEN GRANTED. A BBC TELEVISION REPORTER DISCUSSES HIS EXPERIENCES AND PROBLEMS REPORTING TERRORISM IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND ELSEWHERE. THE REPORTER MUST FEEL A GENERAL SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT IS REPORTED, SINCE POOR JUDGMENT CAN LEAD TO CONFUSION AND EVEN A RIOT. THE QUESTION OF SELF-CENSORSHIP ALSO IS DISCUSSED. A SUMMARY OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOLLOWS THE MAIN PART OF THE SEMINAR. (PRG)