The Medias Role in Terrorism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Medias Role in Terrorism - Research Paper Example      World renown terrorists such as Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri have been known to be particularly obsessed with the media (Transnational Terrorism, Security and the Rule of Law, 2008). According to Hoffman (2006), terrorists’ obsession with the media predicated on the belief that fear is only generated when the media publicizes the terrorist attacks. Without the media coverage, the terrorist attack can only spread limited fear (Hoffman, 2006). Terrorists typically attempt to generate public resentment of government oppression and fear from the government and the public that the terrorist group is powerful. The media is an important vehicle for delivering this type of fear (Walsh, 2010). Media coverage of a terrorist attack can overplay the damages which could lead to government action that represses human rights and potentially result in public disapproval of government responses. Similarly, media coverage of terrorist attacks, often with graphic images and pro longed coverage can overplay the damages and thus invoke fear of a powerful and dangerous terrorist faction. According to Bockstette (2008), the Jihadist terrorist groups maintain a strategic communication system which is propagated via the media. The communication goals are three-fold. The first of the communication goals is to spread information about Islam to Muslims with a view to establishing and propagating a fixed idea about what it means to be a Muslim. The second communication goal is also directed toward Muslims and those who might question acts of violence on religious grounds.