NCJ Number
56501
Journal
Terrorism Volume: 2 Issue: 182 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (1979) Pages: 1-54
Editor(s)
M T MCEWEN,
S SLOAN
Date Published
1979
Length
54 pages
Annotation
THE PROCEEDINGS OF A 1-DAY CONFERENCE DURING WHICH NEWS MEDIA AND LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS IN OKLAHOMA DISCUSSED POLICE-PRESS RELATIONS IN THE HANDLING OF TERRORIST EPISODES ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
THE CONFERENCE WAS ORGANIZED BY THE STUDY GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA TO PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS WITH A COMMON BASE OF INFORMATION ON TERRORISM AND TO INITIATE DISCUSSIONS ON THE ISSUES SURROUNDING MEDIA (PRINT AND ELECTRONIC) COVERAGE OF TERRORIST EVENTS. CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED A MINICOURSE ON TERRORISM, VIDEOTAPES OF ACTUAL AND SIMULATED TERRORIST EPISODES, PRESENTATIONS BY POLICE OFFICIALS AND JOURNALISTS, AND DISCUSSIONS. THE REPORT OFFERS AN EDITED VERSION OF THE CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT. IT INCLUDES A SUMMARY OF THE STUDY GROUP'S ANALYSIS OF SOME 169 INCIDENTS OF TERRORISM SINCE 1968. SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS AND MUCH OF THE DISCUSSION REFLECT STRONG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN JOURNALISTS AND POLICE REGARDING THE HANDLING OF TERRORIST EPISODES. BOTH SIDES SEEM WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MISHAPS DURING AN ACTUAL CRISIS SITUATION, BUT NEITHER SIDE WILL ACCEPT THE IMPOSITION OF SPECIFIC RULES OR GUIDELINES PERCEIVED AS IMPINGING ON BASIC RIGHTS OR DUTIES. THE PRESENCE OF A NEUTRAL PARTY (THE MEMBERS OF THE STUDY GROUP) PROVED USEFUL IN PREVENTING THE CONFERENCE FROM DETERIORATING INTO A CONFRONTATION, AS HAS HAPPENED IN SOME OTHER POLICE-PRESS MEETINGS. THE SIMULATION OF TERRORIST EPISODES HOLDS PROMISE AS A MEANS OF PROVIDING INSIGHTS INTO POLICE-PRESS CONFLICTS. FUTURE CONFERENCES SHOULD FOCUS ON MAKING POLICE AWARE OF THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT COOPERATING WITH THE PRESS, AND ON DEMONSTRATING TO THE PRESS THAT IMPROPER REPORTING DURING OR AFTER A TERRORIST EPISODE CAN RESULT IN INCREASED VIOLENCE. (LKM)