The question of relations between the media and terrorism is rather controversial because of the phenomena’s interdependence. It is possible to state that the power of terrorism can be enhanced by the media because the media resources are used as the tools for terroristic organizations, but the media cannot cause terrorism directly.
Terroristic organizations are inclined to use the media in order to realize the definite purposes and complete the organization’s goals, but the activities of the free media cannot provoke the development of terrorism without references to terroristic organizations (Terrorism and the media, 2008).
The media can stimulate the power of terrorism because the principle of freedom followed by the media resources depends on spreading any type of information, and terrorist organizations rely on spreading their messages in order to affect the public and cause the people’s fear (Camphuijsen & Vissers, 2010).
As a result, the impact of terroristic organizations and their activities increase, however, the media in their nature cannot cause terrorism because of the differences in goals and purposes. The purposes and goals of terroristic organizations are to scare the public and achieve the certain social and political goals, and the completion of these goals is complicated without the usage of the mass media because of the necessity to persuade the public (Martin, n.d.).
Thus, the modern products of the active relations between the mass media and terrorism which contribute to increasing the power of terroristic organizations are anonymous terrorism, the focus on violent terrorist attacks, and the terroristic attacks against media institutions to make them follow the terrorist instructions (Perl, 1997). Terrorists use the media to draw the public’s attention to the problem and receive the necessary resonance within the society.
In spite of the fact that the media are closely associated with the development of terrorism and with stimulating the power of terroristic organizations, the media can also influence the public’s opinion in order to form the specific viewpoint and position against terrorism. From this perspective, it is important to control the usage of the media by terroristic organizations and to provide the required policies.
References
Camphuijsen, M., & Vissers, E. (2010). Terrorism and the mass media: A symbiotic relationship? Web.
Martin, J. (n.d.). The media’s role in international terrorism. Web.
Perl, R. (1997). Terrorism, the media, and the government: perspectives, trends, and options for policymakers. Web.
Terrorism and the media. (2008). Web.