The impact of American media's coverage on acts of terrorism

Terrorists of the 1980's have achieved some success in using the media as a communication platform. This thesis analyzed the opinions and concerns held by American print and broadcast journalists regarding the impact news coverage has on acts of international terrorism. These opinions were used to address the following primary research problem: Does American media's news coverage of international terrorism inadvertently serve to assist the terrorist in the success of his campaign?; Media representatives responding to this study's mail survey demonstrated a keen awareness of the terrorist's need for attention and overwhelmingly agreed that: (1) publicity was the main goal of the terrorist, and (2) American television was the communication medium most vulnerable to terrorist exploitation. Despite respondent's sound understanding of the terrorist's desire to use the media as a communication platform this study's findings suggest that American media's commitment to the public's "right to know" overshadows the dangers present in providing the terrorist valuable publicity. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)...