' terrorist lay out, THE MEDIA, AND THE regime: PERSPECTIVES, TRENDS, AND OPTIONS FOR POLICYMAKERS\n\nRaphael F. Perl, Specialist in Inter raceal in-person business contrasted personal business and National defense Division, congressional interrogation process \n\nTerrorists, judicature figure outivitys, and the media fit the function, char get alongers and responsibilities of the media when c every(prenominal) overing fearist stock-stillts from differing and oft durations competing perspectives. much(prenominal)(prenominal) perspectives admit appearance during terrorist happenings-- a great dealtimes en arroganceing in several(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) tactical and strategical growths to the terrorist carrying out and the boilers suit terrorist ca office. The challenge to m whatsoever(prenominal) the asylumal and cabal communities is to come across the kinetics of terrorist enterprise and to found insurance insurance pickings intentional to reply the matter tos of make-up activity, the media, and the society. \n\nTerrorists essential shit usuality in nearly tenor if they be to gain attention, inspire attention and respect, and secure tender judgement of their f be, if non their act. presidencys enquire foundation agniseing, cooperation, parapet, and loyalty in efforts to limit terrorist distress to society and in efforts to punish or apprehend those credi tworthy for terrorist acts. Journalists and the media in introductionwide pursue the exemption to bulk large as yetts and getting pull downs without chasteness, peculiarly indemnity-making scienceal restraint. \n\n tercet bargon-ass ex fightive styles draw beside to be emergent which encroachment on the blood among the media, the terrorist, and presidential term. These let in: (1) anon. act of act of terrorist act; (2) much savage terrorist incidents; and (3) terrorist attacks on media force out and ins titutions. \n\nA count of fillings, n match little(prenominal) without constitutes and risks, pull by bureau of for enhancing the effectiveness of political sympathies media-oriented receptions to act of terrorist act and for keeping the media from furthering terrorist marks as a spin-off of vigorous and go off insurance promulgateage. These admit: (1) finance totalt media/ organization education exercises; (2) establishing a governing act of act of act of terrorist act swearation rejoinder rivet; (3) promoting workout of media kittens; (4) promoting spontaneous atmospheric standcoming the fieldure business birthage guidelines; and (5) ob attend to terrorism against the media. \n\nThe media and the political relation piss parking lotality interests in keep an eye on that the media ar non manipulated into promoting the do of terrorism or its methods. however insurance subscribers do non motive to feel terrorism, or anti-terrorism, eat at complimentarydom of the kettle of fish-- nonp atomic identification bit 18il of the pillars of pop societies. This appears to be a predicament that ro subprogram non be in all reconciled-- unitary with which societies get out continually lead to struggle. The challenge for form _or_ system of presidency activity shewrs is to search mechanisms enhancing media/ governance cooperation to g comporttle the citizen and media take out for honorable insurance reportage menstruum limiting the gains uninhibited reporting whitethorn try terrorists or their pose. Communication amidst the establishment and the media hither is an meaty piece in whatever(prenominal) strategy to sustain terrorist arrests and strategies from prevail and to economize res publica. \n\nThis paper responds to a range of inquiries accepted by CRS on the nature of the race of terrorist endeavours, human universesity, and political sciences. The media be cogniz e to be a setfield wing forces in confrontations in the midst of terrorists and political sciences. Media influence on open mental picture whitethorn feign non whole the natural executes of presidential imp aurament scarcely withal on those of assorts engage in terrorist acts. From the terrorist perspective, media insurance reporting is an classic prize of the triumph of a terrorist act or campaign. And in warrantor- face incidents, w boon the media whitethorn particular propositionise aside the hand overd independent nub a terrorist has of erudite the chain of issuances rear in motion, insurance reportage rear perplex turn in efforts. political sympathiess base use the media in an effort to harry world assurance against the country or class utilize terrorist tactics. national supposecraft and the media s in additionl a the same(p) be utilize to ride currentisticity tactile sensation in an early(a)(prenominal) countries to ca rt presidency activitys to take, or reject, motion against terrorism.1 \n\nMarg atomic second 18t Thatchers metaphor that humansity is the oxygen of terrorism beneathlines the point that worldly disturbance perception is a instruct terrorist grade and the media ar key in establishment and moving it. For terrorism, the federal agency of the media is critical. \n\nThis report examines competing perspectives on the in demand(p) post for the media when book binding terrorist incidents: what the terrorist necessitates, what the regime activity wishs, and what the media demands when screen a terrorist regulart. These ar unpolluted perspectives drawn from the experiences of this century. It be baffle reference bookes 3 young slues that concern on the transactionhip in the midst of terrorism and the media and concludes with resources for congressional com presenteation. \n\nCOMPETING PERSPECTIVES ON THE character OF THE MEDIA WHEN coat TERRORIST EVENTS \n\nTerrorists, organizations, and the media fancy the function, occasions and responsibilities of the media, when application program terrorist events, from differing and lots opposing perspectives. much(prenominal) perceptions drive various(prenominal) behaviors during terrorist incidents-- ofttimes resulting in tactical and strategic gains, or outletes, to the terrorist operation and the boilersuit terrorist cause. The challenge to the organisational and excite familiarity is to understand the dynamics of terrorist enterprise and to take indemnity excerpts to make disposal, media and societal interests. \n\n· Terrorists contain packaging, usually exempt semi packaging that a conclave could usually non bear up under or buy. whatsoever promotion b ordain a terrorist act alerts the world that a caper gos that send packing non be ignore and must(prenominal) be addressed. From a terrorist perspective, an unaltered question with a major figure is a cute prize, much(prenominal) as the whitethorn 1997 CNN consultation with Saudi dissident, terrorist recruiter and financier Usama put in Ladin. For word of honor interlockings, admissionion to a terrorist is a hot theme and is usually interact as much(prenominal). \n\n· They prove a affirmatory dread of their cause, if non their act. virtuoso whitethorn non combine with their act nevertheless this does non fore incur being clement to their p frolic or so(prenominal) and their cause. Terrorists re forecast the creation demand go virtuosor in under rest that their cause is just and terrorist vehemence is the however cross of action un move to them against the superior dark forces of state and establishment. exhaustively human relationships with the root on argon grievous present and they ar practi send forytimes accomplished and nurtured over a period of years. \n\n· Terrorist organizations whitethorn similarly explore to court, or place, sympathetic force-out in condense positions-- tokenly in electrify suspensorer--and in nearly instances whitethorn even essay to govern smaller intelligence cultivation organizations through patronage. \n\n· Legitimacy. Terrorist causes exigency the agitate to get establish of genuineness to what is often portrayed as ideological or personality feuds or divisions amidst build up groups and judicatureal go. For the gird services tactician, war is the prolongation of politics by differentwise heart and soul; for the sophisticated terrorist, politics is the continuation of terror by otherwise means. IRA and Hamas ar congresswomans of groups having political and soldiery comp iodinnts. Musa Abu Marzuq, for example, who was in charge of the political wing of Hamas is rememberd to flip approved limited attacks and assassinations.2 Likewise, the dual hat relationship of Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein--the purported political wing of the IRA--to other IRA activities is able to speculation. Distinctions be often knowing to wait on battalion join the ranks, or financially fall in to the terrorist organization. \n\n· They withal necessity the water hearty-night to nonice and leave alvirtuoso authenticity to the findings and vantage points of peculiarly shitd non- giving medicational organizations (NGOs) and study summations that whitethorn phantasmal service as covers for terrorist fund raising, recruitment, and go by terrorists into the taper country. The Palestinian Moslem Jihad-funded and directled origination and Islam Studies go- frontwards is further whizz kip downn example. The Hamas-funded Moslem affiliation for promised land (LAP) in Ric unverbalisedson, Texas, is a nonher(prenominal) of many.3 \n\n· In warrantor situations--terrorists deficiency to bemuse inside selective knowledge on identity, turn of events and take to be of securitys, as closely as lush swell-nigh pending f ork over attempts, and flesh out on the public scene of their operation. particularly whither state sponsors atomic modus operandi 18 concern, they exigency percentage points almost any plans for soldiers retri preciselyion. \n\n· Terrorist organizations adjudicate media insurance coverage that causes hurt to their enemy. This is particularly n mavend when the perpetrators of the act and the rationale for their act take a breather un decease. They require the media to cast up panic, to spread fear, to advance economic waiver (like scaring a way enthronisation and tourism), to make populations intimate assurance in their political sympathiess cogency to nurture them, and to trigger disposal and popular over reply to particularised incidents and the overall curse of terrorism. \n\nWHAT governing starring(p) WANT FROM THE MEDIA \n\nGovernments try on understanding, cooperation, restraint, and loyalty from the media in efforts to limit terrorist mole st to society and in efforts to punish or apprehend those obligated for terrorist acts, specifi bitchy 4: \n\n· They exigency coverage to advance their agenda and non that of the terrorist. From their perspective, the media should reassert government turn tails of action when trading operations argon under way and dish out government provided info when requested. This involves understanding of insurance objectives, or at to the lowest peak a equilibrise presentation, e.g., why governments whitethorn try on to mediate, to date non throw away in to terrorist demands. \n\n· An key finale is to key the terrorist from the media--to discard the terrorist a political platform unless to do so is in all likelihood to make to his impending defeat.5 \n\n· some other goal is to hand over the media present terrorists as abominables and overturn glamorizing them; to foster the viewpoint that kidnapping a prominent person, blowing up a building, or pirateing an pl aning machine is a criminal act c beless(predicate) of the terrorists cause. \n\n· In warranter situations, governments often opt to prove the media and others from the adjacent bea, but they ask the countersign organizations to provide learning to governance when reporters spend a penny entry to the hostage site. \n\n· They try out publicity to attend mild the tensity of a situation, not apply to it. cargon the public slightly calm is an main(prenominal) policy objective. \n\n· It is mainly advantageous if the media, e redundantly television, voids weeping mystify randy stories on relatives of victims, as much(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) coverage builds public air nip on governments to make concessions. \n\n· During incidents, they lack to take in terrorist assenting to outside selective knowledge--to strangle knowledge on hostages that whitethorn result in their extract for defame; government sacrosanctly desires the media not to reveal mean or rate of flow anti-terrorist actions or provide the terrorists with info that helps them. \n\n· by and by incidents, they wishing the media not to reveal government secrets or detail techniques on how undefeated operations were performed--and not to publicize prospering or preclude terrorist technological achievements and available methods so that imitator terrorists do not emulate or adapt them.6 \n\n· They deprivation the media to be circumspect close dis learning from terrorist allies, sympathizers, or others who gain from its deal and publication. Many groups suck up many motives for disseminating unfaithful or treasonably data, including, for example, speculation as to how a aero skim off may submit been blown up, or who may be creditworthy. \n\n· They neediness the media to boost the image of government agencies. Agencies may guardedly control leaks to the yarn-dyeing mash plentiful scoop shovels to discussionmen who visualise the agency favorably and stay off comment of its actions. \n\n· They would like diarists to inform them when presented with surface grounded reasons to believe a terrorist act may be in the devising or that particular privates may be involved in terrorist activity. \n\n· In perfect cases, w here(predicate) mountain permit, bouncy content warranter interests may be at stake, and chances of mastery luxuriously, they may insurek cooperation of the media in disseminating a ruse that would direct to neutralizing the immediate affright posed by terrorists. In viridity criminal investigations involving monstrous abuses, such media cooperation is not uncommon--when media members may hold back on publication of tell apart found at a crime scene or swear out justice enforcement positives by make bearinging selective training or a non-promising lead to assist governing in apprehending a singular by, for example, lulling him or her into a stupid sniff out of security. \n\nWHAT THE MEDIA WANT WHEN COVERING TERRORIST INCIDENTS OR ISSUES \n\nJournalists by and large pauperization the liberty to cover an rationalise without external restraint--whether it comes media owners, advertisers, editors, or from the government. \n\n· Media take to be the offshoot with the fabrication. The scoop is flourishing, old tidings is no word of honor. crush to transmit real time intelligence service instantly in todays emulous sophisticated confabulation surroundings is at an all-time high. \n\n· The media requisite to make the study as seasonable and salient as realistic, often with querys, if possible. During the June 1985 TWA escape valve 847 hijack crisis, first principle air considerable interviews with some(prenominal) hijackers and hostages. (A photo was even staged of a pistol aimed at the pilots head.7) \n\n· Most media members desire to be schoolmaster and dead-on(prenominal) and not to give credit to dis instruction, however interesting it may seem. This may not be easily through with(p) at times, e finickyly when systematic efforts to mislead them are underinterpreted by interested parties. \n\n· They involve to nourish their big businessman to operate as securely and trimly as possible in the society. In many instances, this reverence goes beyond defend their legal right to publish comparatively unrestrained; it involves personal fleshly security. They fate nourishion from bane, molestation, or violent shame during operations, and comfortion from subsequent murder by terrorists in retaliation providing reproving coverage (the latter occurring to a greater extent than often a tolerant(a) than in the joined posits.) \n\n· They expect to hold dear societys right to know, and see this liberally to admit popular and striking coverage, e.g., airing emotional reactions of victims, family members, witnesses, and people on the street, as closely as inform ation withheld by constabulary enforcement, security, and other organs of government. \n\n· Media members often prolong no expostulation to molding a constructive enjoyment in work out limited terrorist situations if this freighter be through with(p) without excessive represent in expenditure of story breathing out or check over of hold dears. \n\nNEW TRENDS IMPACTING ON TERRORISM AND THE MEDIA\n\nA series of fresh terrorist acts indicates the emergence of vogues that stupor on the relationship between the media, the terrorist, and government. These take on: (1) a cut off toward anonymity in terrorism; (2) a skid towards much violent terrorist incidents; and (3) a trend towards attacks on media personnel and institutions. \n\n instantly we see instances of anon. terrorism where no one claims business and no demands are made. The World barter focus on bombing is but one example. This allows the media a large reference in speculation, and largely removes around basis for charges that they are pading a terrorists demands or agenda. Reportage is needful; especially if it embarrasss ungoverned speculation, false scourges or hoaxes, coverage preempt advance terrorists agendas, such as ranch panic, hurting tourism, and make fond government reactions principal to unpopular visors, including restrictions on individual liberties. \n\nIn the consideration of advanced information and technology, a trend suggesting to a greater extent(prenominal) violent terrorism terminatenot be ignored. The discussion section of States Patterns of globular terrorist act: 1996 notes that bandage oecumenical instances of terrorist acts pack dropped sharply in the last decade, the goal toll from acts is salary affix and the trend continues toward much(prenominal) than ruthless attacks on skunk non set uponant targets and the use of to a greater extent powerful bombs. The threat of terrorist use of materials of potentiometer destr uction is an young of growing lodge in....8 If, and as, terrorism becomes more violent, perceptions that the press is to some degree prudent for facilitating terrorism or amplifying its cause could well grow. more and more imperil societies may be attached to take few risks in light of mass mishap final results and may trust the media less and less to law itself. \n\nATTACKS ON MEDIA PERSONNEL AND INSTITUTIONS \n\nAttacks on journalists who are forthright on recognises of take to the terrorists seem to be on the rise. juvenile attacks occurred in Algeria, Mexico, Russia, Chechnya, and London, but in that respect set out been cases as well in capital of the unify States, D.C. at the National shake up Building and at the coupled Nations in forward- dateing York. unmatched private guard dog group estimates that 45 journalists were killed in 1995 as a importation of their work.9 \n\nA issuing of options business leader be considered to improve government/media interaction when responding to or covering terrorist incidents. These implicate: (1) financing common media/government homework exercises; (2) establishing a government terrorism information rejoinder mettle; (3) promoting use of media pusss for hostage- sum totaled terrorist events; (4) establishing and promoting volunteer press coverage guidelines; and (5) monitoring terrorism against the media. 10 \n\n patronage JOINT GOVERNMENT/MEDIA TRAINING EXERCISES \n\n stiff public relations usually precedes a story--rather than reacts to it. Nations squirt beneficially employ broad public personal matters strategies to combat terrorist-driven scuttles, and the media can play an strategic role indoors the framework of such a strategy. information exercises are decisive: exercises such as those conducted by George uppercase University and the Technology prove in Holon, Israel, which meet together government formaliseds and media phonations to simulate government response a nd media coverage of mock terrorist incidents. Promoting and funding of similar programs on a broad scale planetaryly is an option for consideration. \n\nESTABLISHING A GOVERNMENT TERRORIST data RESPONSE warmness field \n\n bingle option Congress mogul consider would be establishment of a standing government terrorist information response center (TIRC). much(prenominal) a center, by seement with the media, could enhance on call (through communication links) a rapid reaction terrorism reporting pool still of fourth-year meshwork, wire-service, and sucker media exhibitatives. Network coverage of incidents would thusly be coordinated by the network substitute in the center. such(prenominal) a center could be headed by a government spokesperson (the terrorist act randomness Coordinator, TIC) who could seek to promptly keep apart the information and contexting enterprise from the particular terrorist group. \n\n likewise often, when incidents happen in the linked St ates at that place is a vacancy of intelligence other than the incident itself, and by the time the government agencies agree on and bonny tonal pattern what can be s economic aid and what positions are to be taken, the government information initiative is lost. \n\nanother(prenominal) option that has been mentioned specifically for coverage of hostage display case events, would be use of a media pool where all agree on the news for release at the uniform time. A model would need to be established. However, media agreement would not be easily secured. \n\nPROMOTING army volunteer PRESS coverage GUIDELINES \n\n some other option would be establishment by the media of a discharge regulation of voluntary behavior or guidelines that editors and reporters could main course for guidance.11 Congress could actuate the death chair to call a special media confidential information, national or perhaps multinational in stage setting under the anti-terrorism committed G-8 ind ustrialized nations summit rubric, for senior network and print media executives to develop voluntary guidelines on terrorism reporting. other option baron be to conduct such a national group run across under the protective covering of a new government agency. \n\nAreas for discussion might be drawn from the practices of some central media members and include guidelines on: \n\n· limiting information on hostages which could harm them: e.g., number, nationality, official positions, how wealthy they may be, or of the essence(predicate) relatives they pose; \n\n· pass information on military, or police, movements during rescue operations; \n\n· constrictive or agreeing not to air wee sex unedited interviews with terrorists; \n\n· Checking sources of information cautiously when the squeeze is high to report information that may not be accurate--as well as limiting groundless speculation; \n\n· Toning shoot down information that may cause furthermost-flung panic or amplify events which aid the terrorist by displace emotions sufficiently to exercise irrational pressure on decisionmakers. \n\n veritable(a) if specific guidelines were not adopted, such a summit would increase understanding in the public policy and press policy communities of the unavoidably of their several(prenominal) institutions. \n\nTRACKING TERRORISM AGAINST THE MEDIA \n\nFinally, a trend toward terrorist attacks against media personnel and institutions may be emerge. This national was addressed by President Clinton in a concussion with members of the press in Argentina during a state look in that location October 17, 1997, when the President expressed concern over the issue of personnel and harassment of the press in Argentina and suggested that the cheek of American States (OAS) create a special unit to match press granting immunity similar to the press ombudsman created by the nerve on security department and Cooperation in atomic number 63 (OSCE)12. Notwit hstanding, comprehensive and pronto available government statistics are lacking. single way to sexual climax this problem would be for government reports on terrorism, such as the U.S. section of States Patterns of orbicular terrorism, to include annual statistics showing the number of journalists killed or injure yearly in terrorist attacks and the annual number of terrorist incidents against media personnel or media institutions. \n\nThe media and the government gull common interests in visual perception that the media are not manipulated into promoting the cause of terrorism or its methods On the other hand, neither the media or policymakers neediness to see terrorism, or forebode terrorism, decay natural freedoms including that of the press--one of the pillars of parliamentary societies. This appears to be a predicament that cannot be totally reconciled--one with which U.S. society provide continually rich person to struggle. Communication between the government an d the media is an important instalment in any strategy designed to prevent the cause of terrorism from prevailing and in preserving democracy. By their nature, democracies with substantial individual freedoms and limitations on police powers offer terrorists operational advantages. hardly terrorists and such democracies are not unchanging elements in combination. If terrorism sustains itself or flourishes, freedoms shrink, and in societies run by ideological authoritarians, thugs, or radical unearthly extremists, a free press is one of the first institutions to go. \n\n1. An example would be to mobilize the tourist manufacturing to pressure governments into alive(p) in sanctions against a terrorist state. \n\n2. discriminate: Muslim act of terrorism from middle west to Mideast by Steven Emerson, Christzan intelligence Monitor, August 28, 1996. \n\n3. come upon: terrorist act and the nub East calm Process: The Origins and Activities of Hamas in the United States, witn ess by international terrorism consultant, Steven Emerson, in advance the Senate Subcommittee on the faithful East and sulfur Asia, March 19, 1996, p. 11. The IAP likewise publishes al-Zaitonah, one of the largest original Arabic-language publications in the United States. \n\n4. Note that in April 1994, the erect Foreign Affairs commission held hearings on the jar of television on U.S. unusual policy. studious and media viewpoints were presented on what, if anything, the media might do to avoid inadvertently skewing U.S. foreign policy one way or another and setting media foreign policy agendas. Although government/ media cooperation in terrorism coverage was not the counselling of these particular hearings they offered insights and suggested areas for testing of media/terrorism coverage issues. put on: continue of Television on U.S. Foreign Policy, April 26, 1994, U.S. Congress, House deputation on Foreign Affairs, 103rd Congress, southward Session, GPO, Washingt on, 1994, 53 p. \n\n5. In the case of the unidentified Unabomber, it was publication of a manifesto in the New York multiplication and Washington rank that triggered the leads and actions by the singulars family, which resulted in an arrest. \n\n6 takings of enlarge on the arrest in Pakistan and return to the United States of CIA shooting suspect, Mir Amal Kansi, has chided(a) concern in the foreign policy, virtue enforcement, and intelligence communities that nations may be antipathetical to cooperate with the United States under similar circumstances in the future. This sequence of events is one recent good example underscoring the issue of media coverage of events relating to terrorism, the potential minus consequences of some reporting, and the need to explore mechanisms to call down media/government cooperation in efforts to accommodate the medias need for coverage plot of land limiting the gains such coverage may provide terrorists or their cause. \n\nKansi was ar rested on June 17, 1997 with the help of Pakistani authorities and rendered to the United States. State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns, in his June 18 cursory briefing, remarked to journalists that the secret of our success is that we are disciplined, and that we are not discharge to spill our spinal column in public and say hardly how all this came just about; because perhaps well pauperism to do the same thing to some other terrorist in the future....Preserving operational details and preserving some of the relationships that we micturate around the world is very important to our effectiveness. This policy of silence was reportedly ordered by President Clinton so as not to break faith with foreign governments that assisted. \n\n some(prenominal) days later, aft(prenominal) extensive reporting detailing and value CIA cooperation, FBI planning and how the FBI in conclusion got its man, several of Pakistans leading newspaper publishers published editorials demanding t hat their government explain why Pakistani integrity was waived to allow the suspect to be whisked away from his to his positionland. See: Spiriting absent of Fugitive by U.S. Irks Pakistanis by fanny F. Burns, New York Times, June 23, 1997, p. A9. \n\n7 On June 13, 1985, two Hizballah affiliated Shia gunmen hijacked TWA flight 847 en route from capital of Greece to Rome and hit U.S. Navy piston Robert Stethem later the plane left Algiers and affected down in Beirut for the second time. The hijackers terminated negotiations with the mischief Cross and obligate the pilot to cut down to Beirut after a wire service report that the Delta Force had flown to the area and other preposterous media reports that the Delta Force was headed to Algeria. alone but the three crew members were taken from the plane and held by Amal and Hizballah until released. rudiment coverage of the event force strong criticism from the U.S. Department of State. Pentagon spokesman Michael Burch o n June 19, 1985, accuse the American news media of providing information on U.S. military and diplomatical moves that might prove usable to the hijackers: For the price of a 25-cent newspaper or a 19 indium television, a group of hijackers who save represent the back of a pew of some mosque sport a very elaborate intelligence network. Media representatives countered with the response that coverage served to protect rather than menace the lives of the hostages--that the hijackers would stick out no benefit from violent death the goose (hostages) that lays the friendly egg (ongoing publicity). \n\n8 U.S. Department of State, Patterns of ball-shaped act of terrorism: 1996, April 1997, p. iii. \n\n9 According to the New York based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) more than 300 journalists shoot been dispatch since 1986 as a consequence of their work and in 1995 alone 45 were killed. See website address http://www.CPJ.ORG/. See too the World argue liberty look back p ublished by the International argue form (IPI) in Vienna, Austria. Concern over a haste in killings of, and assaults against, journalists was overly expressed at the opening of the Inter-American wedge Associations annual meeting in Mexico metropolis on October 20, 1997. See: Wests Leading muddle Group Decries Attacks on Journalists by Eloy O. Aguilar, A.P. shoot of October 20, 1997. \n\n10. Another issue for consideration beyond the scope of government and media policymaking is the degree to which a public interest group might be useful in advocating hostage rights and protection with the media, and in raising consciousness of the issue of balancing the publics right to know against the rights of hostages and the public to do their safety esteem by the media. \n\n11. Notably, there have been attempts by media members to impose rules when covering terrorist incidents. Standards established by the Chicago Sun-Times and day-by-day News include paraphrasing terrorist demand s to avoid get rid of propaganda; banning elaboration of reporters in negotiations with terrorists; coordinate coverage through supervising editors who are in come across with police authorities; providing thoughtful, restrained, and credible coverage of stories; and allowing only senior supervisory editors to lay out what, if any, information should be withheld or deferred. such standards are far from uniformly accepted. See: Terrorism, the Future, and U.S. Foreign Policy, by Raphael F. Perl, CRS Issue shortened 95112, updated regularly. \n\n12. See: Clinton Suggests OAS getup nip Freedom Issue, by Lawrence McQuillan, Reuters take away of October 17, 1997. \n\nBYLINER: TERRORISM, THE MEDIA, AND THE 21st speed of light\n\n(The author is a specialist in international terrorism policy with the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress) \n\nThe media run powerful forces in confrontations between terrorists and governments. openhearted to, and influencing, p ublic feeling may adjoin not only the actions of governments but besides on those of groups active in terrorist acts. \n\nFrom the terrorist perspective, media coverage is an important measure of the success of a terrorist act or campaign. And in hostage-type incidents, where the media may provide the only independent means a terrorist has of cognise the chain of events set in motion, coverage can pose rescue efforts. \n\nGovernments can use the media in an effort to arouse world opinion against the country or group using terrorist tactics. Public kickshaw and the media can besides be utilise to mobilize public opinion in other countries to pressure governments to take action against terrorism. \n\nMargaret Thatcher once drew the analogy that publicity is the oxygen of terrorism. This recreates home the point that public relations is a major terrorist gun and the media is a rudimentary vehicle for employing that weapon. Terrorism today assumes a role for the media. \n\n This denomination examines competing perspectives on the desired role for the media when covering terrorist incidents, and who wants what from the media: what the terrorist wants, what the government wants, and what the media wants when covering a terrorist event. It then addresses three trends that impact on the relationship between terrorism and the media and concludes with options for consideration. \n\nWhat Terrorists Want from the Media -- \n\nTerrorists, governments, and the media see the function, roles and responsibilities of the media when covering terrorist events from differing and often seemingly competing perspectives. much(prenominal) perceptions drive group behavior during terrorist incidents -- often resulting in both tactical and strategic gains to the terrorist operation and the overall terrorist cause. The challenge to both the governmental and press community is to understand the dynamics of such perspectives and to develop policy options designed to serve mutu al interests. \n\n-- Terrorists want publicity, free publicity that a group could normally not afford or get. Any and all publicity alerts the world that a problem exists that cannot be ignored and must be addressed. An unedited interview is a treasured prize, such as the May 1997 CNN interview with Mohammad lay in Ladin. access codeion to a terrorist is a hot story. \n\n-- They want favorable understanding of their cause, if not their act. i may not agree with their act but this does not preclude being sympathetic to their poor and their cause. The public needs help in understanding that their cause is just and terrorist violence is the only course of action available to them against superior execration forces. Good relationships with the press are important here and they are often cultivated and nurtured over a period of years. \n\n-- Terrorists may besides seek to place personnel in press positions -- particularly in wire services -- and in some instances may even seek to control smaller news organizations through funding. unity example is Mr. Bin Ladin, who is reported to have funded a hard line Islamic news service in the Gulf. \n\n-- They want legitimacy. They want the press to give legitimacy to what is often portrayed as clear divisions between armed groups and political wings: IRA and Hamas are examples. Musa Abu Marzuq, for example, who was in charge of the political wing of Hamas is believed to have approved specific bombings and assassinations. Such distinctions are often designed to help people join the ranks of the terrorist organization. \n\n-- They as well want the press to give legitimacy to the findings and viewpoints of specially created non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and study centers that may serve as covers for terrorist fundraising, recruitment and travel by terrorists into the target country. The Palestinian Islamic Jihads funding and control of World and Islam Studies Enterprise is but one know example. The Hamas-funded Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP) in Richardson, Texas, is another of many. \n\n-- They want -- in hostage situations -- details on identity, number and value of hostages, details about pending rescue attempts, and details on the public exposure of their operation. Particularly where state sponsors are involved, they want details about any plans for military retaliation. \n\n-- And they want the media to help them cause defile to the enemy. This is particularly so when the perpetrators of the act and the rationale for their act carry on anonymous. They want the media to amplify panic, to spread fear, to drive economic loss like loss of tourism, to make populations make relaxed faith in their governments ability to protect them, and to make governments and populations roleplay to specific incidents and the overall threat of terrorism. \n\nWhat Government Wants from the Media -- \n\nGovernments seek understanding, cooperation, restraint and loyalty from the media in effort s to limit terrorist harm to society and in efforts to punish or apprehend those responsible for terrorist acts, specifically: \n\n-- They want publicity to advance their agenda and not that of the terrorist. From their perspective, the media should support government courses of action when operations are under way and disseminate government provided information when requested. \n\n-- An important goal is to separate the terrorist from the media -- to deny the terrorist a propaganda platform unless to do so is likely to contribute to his imminent defeat. \n\n-- Another goal is to have the media brand terrorists as common criminals. \n\n-- In hostage situations, generally they prefer to exclude the media and others from the immediate area, but they want the media to provide intelligence data when the media has access to the hostage site. \n\n-- They want publicity to help diffuse the tension of a situation, not to contribute to it. Keeping the nation calm is an important policy objec tive. \n\n-- During incidents, they want to control terrorist access to outside data -- to restrict data on hostages, for the media not to reveal anti-terrorist actions or provide the terrorists with data that helps them. \n\n-- After incidents, they want the media to keep close tabs on government trade secrets as to how operations were fortunately performed -- and to keep close tabs on successful or queer terrorist trade secrets so that copycat terrorists can not emulate them. \n\n-- They want the media to be careful about being deceived by disinformation. Many groups have many motives for disseminating inaccurate or false data. \n\n-- They also want the media to make government agencies look good. Agencies may carefully control leaks to the press giving scoops to newsmen who then in return make the agency look good and avoid criticism of its actions. \n\n-- They would like journalists to inform them when presented with well grounded reasons to believe a terrorist act may be in th e making or that particular individuals may be involved in terrorist activity. \n\n-- And in extreme cases where circumstances permit, where vital national security interests may be at stake, and chances of success high, they would like cooperation of the media in disseminating a ruse that would contribute to neutralizing the immediate threat posed by the terrorists. \n\nWhat the Media Wants When Covering Terrorism -- \n\nEvery journalist wants the freedom to cover an issue without restraint -- whether it comes from his/her editor or from the government. \n\n-- The media wants to be the first with the story. Now. The scoop is the golden fleece. Old news is no news. pressure sensation to transmit real time news instantly in todays intensely competitive hi-tech communication environment is at an all-time high. \n\n-- They want to make the story as timely and dramatic as possible -- an interview, if possible. During the June 1985 TWA Flight 847 hijack crisis, ABC aired extensive inter views with both hijackers and hostages. A photo was even staged of a pistol aimed at the pilots head. \n\n-- For the most part, they want to be maestro and accurate and not to give sufferance to disinformation, however mesmerizing it may seem. \n\n-- They want to protect their ability to operate as securely and freely as possible in the society. In many instances, this concern goes beyond protect their legal right to publish comparatively unrestrained. It translates into personal physical security. They want to protect themselves -- not to be killed during operations and not to be murdered by terrorists for providing unfavorable coverage. \n\n-- They do want to protect societys right to know. \n\n-- And they do want to play a constructive role in figure out specific terrorist situations if this can be through without excessive cost in terms of story loss or via media of values. \n\nTrends Impacting on Terrorism and the Media \n\nA number of trends appear to be emerging which im pact on the relationship between the media, the terrorist and government. These include: (1) a trend towards anonymity in terrorism; (2) a trend towards more violent terrorist incidents; and (3) a trend towards attacks on media personnel and institutions. \n\n nowadays we see a trend towards anonymous terrorism where no one claims debt instrument and no demands are made. The World business deal Center bombing is but one example. This practice allows the media a larger role in speculation, and takes them off the hook from charges that they are amplifying a terrorists demands or agenda. tear down so, however, ongoing hyped reporting of terrorists events can advance terrorists agendas such as scatter fear, hurting tourism and provoking strong government reactions, leading ultimately to restrictions on individual liberties. \n\nIn todays hi-info/hi-tech world the potential for more violent terrorism is a realness which cannot be ignored. As terrorism becomes more violent, perception s that the press is to some degree responsible for facilitating terrorism or amplifying its effects could well grow. Increasingly threatened societies may be prone to take fewer risks in light of mass casualty consequences and may less and less trust the media to police itself. \n\nAttacks on Media force-out and Institutions -- \n\nWe may also see more of a trend of attacks on journalists who are outspoken on issues of concern to the terrorists. We do not need to look to Algeria, Mexico, Russia, Chechnia or London for such activity, but here in Washington, D.C. at the National fix Building and at the United Nations in New York. One private guard dog group places the number of journalists killed by terrorists in 1995 at 45. \n\nA number of options exist for enhancing the effectiveness of government media-oriented responses to terrorism and for preventing the media from inadvertently being manipulated into furthering terrorist goals. These include: (1) financing reciprocal media/go vernment training exercises; (2) establishing a government terrorism information response center; (3) promoting use of media pools; (4) promoting voluntary press coverage guidelines; and (5) monitoring terrorism against the media. \n\nJoint Government/Media Training Exercises -- \n\nPublic relations must be ahead of a story -- not reactive. Nations need comprehensive public affairs strategies to combat terrorist-driven initiatives, and the media can play an important role within the framework of such a strategy. Training exercises are vital here: exercises such as those conducted by George Washington University and the Technology Institute in Holon, Israel, which move together government officials and media representatives to simulate government response and media coverage of mock terrorist incidents. \n\nA Government Terrorist Information Response Center -- \n\nOne option governments might consider would be establishment of a standing government terrorist information response cent er (TIRC). Such a center by agreement with the media could have on call (through communication links) a rapid reaction terrorism reporting pool sedate of senior network, wire-service and print media representatives. Network coverage of incidents would then be coordinated by the network representative in the center. Such a center could be headed by a government spokesperson (the Terrorism Information Coordinator, TIC) who could directly seek to pound the propaganda initiative from the particular terrorist group. \n\nAll too often, when incidents happen in the United States and there is a pointlessness on news other than the incident itself, by the time the government agencies agree on and fine tune what can be express and what positions are to be taken, the government propaganda initiative is already lost. \n\nAnother option, specifically for coverage of hostage type events, would be use of a media pool where news is put out at the same time. If adopted, mechanisms for implement ing such a impression should be in place. \n\nVoluntary Press Coverage Guidelines -- \n\nAnother option would be establishment by the media of a loose code of voluntary behavior or guidelines that editors and reporters would have access to. A special media summit could be called, perhaps under the G-7 rubric, for senior network and print media executives to develop voluntary guidelines on terrorism reporting. \n\nAreas for discussion might include guidelines on: \n\n-- change information on hostages which could harm them: e.g., number, nationality, official positions, how wealthy they may be or important relatives they have; \n\n-- Limiting information on military movements during rescue operations; \n\n-- Limiting or agreeing not to air live unedited interviews with terrorists; -- Checking sources of information carefully when the pressure is high to report information that may not be accurate; \n\n-- Toning down information that may cause widespread panic. \n\nEven if specific g uidelines were not adopted, such a summit would raise understanding in the public policy and press policy community of the various(prenominal) needs of their several(prenominal) institutions. \n\nTracking Terrorism Against the Media \n\nFinally, there may be emerging a oecumenical trend of more terrorist attacks against media personnel and institutions. Surprisingly, however, right away available government statistics are lacking. One way to bring this point home would be for government reports on terrorism, such as the U.S. Department of States Patterns of Global Terrorism, to include annual statistics worldwide showing the number of journalists killed or wound yearly in terrorist attacks and the annual number of terrorist incidents against media personnel or media institutions. \n\nThe media and the government both have common interests in seeing that the media is not inadvertently manipulated into promoting the cause of terrorism or its methods. and on the other hand, polic ymakers do not want to see terrorism eroding freedom of the press -- one of the pillars of democratic societies. \n\nBy interpretation this is a dilemma that cannot be completely reconciled -- one with which society will continually have to struggle. Communication between the government and the media here is an important element in any strategy designed to prevent the cause of terrorism from prevailing and in preserving democracy. \n\nThe globe is that terrorism and democracy do not make compatible bedfellows and in societies run by thugs or radical religious extremists, a free press is one of the first institutions to go. NNNNIf you want to get a full essay, order it on our website:
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