NCJ Number
108457
Date Published
1986
Length
109 pages
Annotation
Public opinion must be marshalled to restrain television news' coverage of terrorist incidents in a manner that advertises terrorism and gives terrorists an incentive for additional dramatic acts.
Abstract
Television has created a new culture of new coverage and newsmaking, one which gives priority to entertainment, emotional impact, and theatrical manipulation to stimulate and attract viewers. The portrayal of the facts, the dynamics, and the causes of a terrorist incident are less important than its dramatic aspects under the values of the television news culture. These values of television news encourage terrorists to get the world's attention through dramatic incidents packaged for television coverage, even to the extent of terrorists' provision of their own videotapes for network use. Public opinion must be mobilized to pressure television journalism to adopt new values that will undermine rather than fuel terrorism. Such a mobilization may include increased public access to television, lawsuits, vigorous media criticism, and actions by public interest groups. The revision of television news values should encompass less emphasis on dramatic entertainment value, more attention to facts and indepth analysis of terrorism and its tactics, and more specialized training for correspondents who cover terrorist incidents. Chapter notes.