Introduction
Terrorist acts are often a result of people using violence to enforce their strong beliefs. These acts can take many forms, including hostage-taking, sieges, standoffs, and more. Sometimes, the attacks are not instantaneous, lasting from a few hours to several days. One such case was the 1977 terrorist attack in Washington, D.C., by the Hanafi Movement. The incident was discussed in media differently depending on its type, which raises several questions about the role of news coverage in terrorist attacks.
Background
The hostage situation occurred between March 9 and March 11, 1977. The leader of this incident was Hamaas Abdul Khaalis, a former prominent member of the Nation of Islam and the creator of the Hanafi Movement. Both groups were Black Nationalist Muslim organizations; Khaalis left the first one and established the second one as its rival (Davies, 2023). In 1973, Khaalis’ whole family was murdered by men linked to the Nation of Islam. They were later apprehended and convicted to life in prison.
Unsatisfied with the court’s decision, Khaalis occupied the B’nai B’rith international headquarters, the District Building, and the Islamic Center of Washington in 1977, taking more than 150 hostages. The gunmen also killed and injured several people. The terrorists’ demands were to bring the killers of his family and Malcolm X to Khaalis and cancel the premiere of the movie Mohammad, Messenger of God. After 39 hours of negotiations with the help of Muslim ambassadors, all hostages were released, and the gunmen surrendered.
Course Themes
The Role Media Plays in Terrorist Attacks
During the terrorist attack, media coverage included radio broadcasts, television news reports, and live filming on the scene. Later, the event was also covered in print publications, mainly newspapers. Radio and television played a significant role in how the terrorists behaved.
According to first-person accounts from hostages collected in the article by Krishnan et al. (2021), broadcasts released information that the police were planning to go up to the occupied building via a ladder. This report drove one of the gunmen to scream to the police that he would start killing hostages if that were true (Krishnan et al., 2021). Thus, media coverage increased the tension and interfered with peaceful discussions.
Distinguishing Characteristics of Different Forms of Media
After the terrorist attack was over, reporters and journalists had time to reflect on the situation. This period of analysis creates a difference between print and broadcast media channels. On the one hand, the instances mentioned above show how immediate reporting can impact the events while they are occurring. On the other hand, the contemporary articles from the New York Times and Time demonstrate how research and consideration of all known facts present the event (Charlton, 1977; Time, 1977). The distinguishing characteristic of print media is that they focus on reflection while broadcasting news sources revolve around shock.
Coverage in Today’s Media
In today’s abundance of digital media, the event could have been covered differently. Now, people always have access to information, including online newspapers and social media. Therefore, immediate news and first-hand reports are easier to access, and non-journalists can quickly report on the situation from their perspectives. Furthermore, records and past publications can be easily accessed by all people, potentially blending sensationalism and analysis in modern media, which had previously been difficult for reporters.
Conclusion
The terrorist attack that occurred in Washington, D. C., in 1977 was an event that captured the attention of the capital for several days. The media covered the incident with a focus on the occupied buildings, intervening with the course of the negotiations and increasing the tension between the terrorists and the police. Later, print media focused on the background of the attack and the history of racial, religious, and social tensions in the country. The different approaches to reporting reveal the main distinguishing traits between these media forms.
References
Charlton, L. (1977). Gunmen linked to a Moslem sect invade 3 buildings in Washington, kill 1 and hold scores hostage. The New York Times. Web.
Davies, D. (2023). ‘American Caliph’ revisits one of the most dramatic hostage crises in U.S. history. NPR. Web.
Krishnan, S., Chatterjee, M. B., & Puhan, M. S. (2021). Media coverage of acts of terrorism: Troubling episodes and suggested guidelines. Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science, 9(9), 48–63.
Time. (1977). TERRORISM: The 38 Hours: Trial by Terror. Web.