Media and Terrorism Mass Media

Media and Terrorism

Mass Media and Terrorism

Terrorism is hard to define when compared to the much easier concept of war, where there is an absolutely identifiable enemy. In fact, terrorism is much more complicated, making it harder to identify and fight in realistic terms. In today's world there is an interesting relationship between terrorism and the media, as the media often exaggerates and gives too much attention to terrorism and terrorists who thrive off the fear that is produced with this heightened media attention. Increased media attention just often increases the public's fear about terrorism, which can be detrimental to the people's quality of lives. It is often the case that the understanding of terrorism is associated directly with the media coverage of terrorist events. Here, the research states that "without media coverage, the argument often goes, terrorism would simply go away," (168). Essentially, the terrorists are relying on high levels of media coverage because that increases the overall public fear of terrorism, giving terrorists much more control and power. Greater levels of attention help give meaning to terrorist acts and increase awareness and fear of particular terrorist individuals.

There are a number of things the media can do when being threatened by terrorist threats in order to stop the wave of fear the terrorists are looking to spread within American society. First, removing terrorists' access to the media will help decrease the media's relationship with spreading terror. Media outlets should refuse to print or highlight the terrorists own explanations of attacks and threats, as many terrorists often accompany threats with tapes or other sorts of verbal statements. This decreased attention will not continue to increase public fear as much, therefore not serving the terrorists on a silver platter.

Yes, there have been some radical Muslims that have taken extreme terrorist acts against the United States. However, this is not a reason to treat the entire religion as a terrorist organization itself. After 9/11, many Americans and media outlets have begun to treat all Muslims, and even the concept of Islam as a terrorist organization. No other controversies show this strong enough as the controversy concerning the building of the mosque near the site of 9/11. In this case, there is a lot of public outcry regarding a huge mosque that was being proposed to be built beginning in 2009. The film here highlights both media sources and individual survivors of 9/11 and how they are threatened with the presence of the mosque being so close to the site of the twin towers of the World Trade Building. To many survivors it is a really emotional time still because the deaths of loved ones and friends are still very real in their minds. Yet, these individuals are making the mistake of assuming all Muslims are anti-American, and even terrorists.