Terrorism Exploration

Introduction

The patterns of media reporting on terrorism are influenced by the descriptions, images and the background information regarding the terrorist activities which presumably, the journalists worked hard to collect.  The media coverage includes the various phases of terrorism so that the news of terrorists attacks are greatly emphasized, any casualties and damages are greatly highlighted and the post-attack coverage diminishes with time.

The major concern about this pattern of reporting is whether it helps to deteriorate the suffering of terror victims or helps to spread the terrorists’ agenda. The media coverage may seem to play into the trap of the terrorists who want fame and recognition in the major media outlets. By having the photos and names, and the ideologies of the terrorists, the media can largely contribute to fueling of more terrorism activities. Where media reports seem to sympathize with any kind of terror attacks, the results can be dire. For instances, the insinuation by the MEMRI TV that “there is a form of terrorism that is legitimate …necessary … and  ... sacred” shows how media serves to spread terrorist’s propaganda (MEMRI, 2010). This is what such terrorists want and the media including their online platforms are providing extra what they ant.

 A major issue in media bias while reporting terrorism is wider coverage if the perpetrator of the crime is a Muslim. In the various online platforms, papers and TVs, the terrorists’ activities receive more coverage if carried out by Muslims than the non-Muslims. This is despite research showing that during some times, Muslims who carried out the attacks are fewer than people from other religions. On the other hand, shooting by other individuals such as Dylann Roof, a white, at a church in America whose majority members were black received less coverage by the entire media fraternity (Kentish, 2017).  The bias may be due to the widely accepted terrorism definition that the media houses ant to meet in their coverage of the issue. Even though many terrorist acclivities are carried out by religious extremists from the region, other perpetrators do not get such wide coverage.

Conclusion 

The media pattern of reporting seems to place most of the terrorists and their activities to limelight especially where the victims and damages are given much coverage. This may serve to spread the propaganda from the criminals, so that their presence is felt. The bias in media reporting on terrorism may be due to ordinary definition of these acts.

References

MEMRI, (2010).Syrian Cleric Muhammad Sa'id Ramadhan Al-Bouti: There Is a Form of Terrorism that Is Necessary and Even Sacred. Retrieved from: https://www.memri.org/reports/syrian-cleric-muhammad-said-ramadhan-al-bouti-there-form-terrorism-necessary-and-even-sacred