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Raphael Cohen-Almagor

The Terrorists’ Best Ally:

Media Coverage of Terror

February 2005

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terrorists government

media

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The media: Victim or willing party & promoter?

“We took great interest in the press. We always immediately looked how the newspapers,

especially in Berlin, reacted to our actions, and how they

explained them, and thereupon we defined our strategy.”

~ Bommi Bauman

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Media is a theatre, or is it?

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Terrorism is Terrorism is not not a theatera theater

•Terrorism concerns real people, with Terrorism concerns real people, with concrete fears, who wish to go on concrete fears, who wish to go on

with their lives without being with their lives without being coerced into becoming victimscoerced into becoming victims . .

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•Patty Hearst’s kidnapping•Jurgen Schumann’s murder• Mogadishu•"The Mahealdin Al-Naser Martyr

Group“

Insightful Cases

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Insightful Cases – Contd.

•Unabomber Manifesto • Hijacking of TWA 847•Hanafi Muslim takeover•IRA - Carrickmore

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Endangering Life

• Careless reporting and behaviour might result in death of victims and bystanders

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Endangering Life-Hearst

• Patty Hearst’s Kidnapping (February 4, 1974)

• Marilyn Baker’s obsession with the Symbionese Liberation Army.

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Endangering Life-Schumann

• Jurgen Schumann’s murder on October 16, 1977

• The media broadcast the information he had transmitted via the plane’s radio.

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Endangering Life: Gordus v. Yavin

• October 18, 1977 a Lufthansa aeroplane was hijacked to Mogadishu

• German anti-terror unit is about to storm the plane

• Michael Gordus v. Haim Yavin

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Endangering Life: Iranian

Embassy, London • Take over of the Embassy on April

30, 1980

• six terrorists, members of Arabistan anti-Khomeini movement "The Mahealdin Al-Naser Martyr Group“ held 26 people as hostages, demanding the release of 91 ethnic Arab militants being held in Iran

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Endangering Life: Iranian Embassy, London

• "See what happens when I release hostages"

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Endangering Life: Hanafi takeover

• During the Muslim takeover of three buildings (B'nai Brith national quarters, the city Islamic Center, and the District Building) at the heart of Washington D.C. on March 10, 1977, Robert A. Dobkin of The Associated Press asked Khaalis if he had set a deadline, when none had been stated earlier.

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Unabomber

• Killed 3, injured 23

• June ‘95 - demanded NYT and WP publish manifesto

• Janet Reno, others asked the papers to publish it

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Arguments for Publication

• Unabomber had credible record of violence - ‘clear and present danger’

• public safety reasons: Unabomber promised to refrain from any further bombings

• Could lead to capture

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Arguments Against Publication

• “I don’t know what they have gained by printing the manifesto, but I do know what they lost: They lost principle.”

• Establishes a precedent

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David KaczynskiDavid Kaczynski

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Hindering Government Activities: Hindering Government Activities: Bryan & SLABryan & SLA

•John Bryan, publisher of a small newspaper called The Phoenix, printed a

long, rambling letter he claimed was written by the SLA as an answer to his

request to contact him. This was a hoax .

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Hindering Government Activities: Hindering Government Activities: TWA 847TWA 847

•The hijacking of the plane to Beirut on June 14-30, 1985. The United States

turned to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the first 24 hours

after the hijacking to arrange a swap for the passengers and the prisoners .

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Hindering Government Activities: Hindering Government Activities: TWA 847TWA 847

•Because of published and broadcast reports that the U.S. army had dispatched

its Delta force antiterrorist squad to the Middle East, the terrorists fled Algeria and

soon landed in Beirut, where it was far more difficult for the Americans to carry

out a rescue operation

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London Times London Times reported (June 17, reported (June 17, 1985)1985)::

•“The U.S. has reportedly sent a commando unit to the Mediterranean

ready to storm the hijacked plane if necessary… The unit is said to be part of

a crack anti-terrorist squad of several hundred men… The commandos, known as the Delta Unit, may have been sent to

the aircraft carrier Enterprise which is currently in the western Mediterranean ”.

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•Similar reckless reports were made by the NY Times and the Los Angeles Times

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Glorifying Terrorists: SLA

• Portraying the Symbionese Liberation Army as Robin Hood caring for the poor.

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Glorifying Terrorists: TWA 847

The media as Mouthpiece of terrorists

• ABC - “Amal Broadcasting Corporation”

• NBC - “Nabih Berri Corporation.”

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Sensational Coverage: IsraelSensational Coverage: Israel

Between April 1993 and February Between April 1993 and February 2004 there were 152 suicide attacks2004 there were 152 suicide attacks . .

They resulted in 631 people killed They resulted in 631 people killed and 4107 people injuredand 4107 people injured . .

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Sensational Coverage-Sensational Coverage-ContdContd..

Dedicating 20 of 25 pages of news to Dedicating 20 of 25 pages of news to yesterday’s attackyesterday’s attack..

live pictures from the scene, when live pictures from the scene, when reporters only rehash what they said reporters only rehash what they said some minutes earlier and perhaps, in some minutes earlier and perhaps, in

desperation, might relay the latest desperation, might relay the latest unchecked rumorunchecked rumor

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Sensational Coverage: Sensational Coverage: September 11, 2001September 11, 2001

Media that exploited the suffering of Media that exploited the suffering of the people trapped and soon died the people trapped and soon died

inside the struck towers, playing inside the struck towers, playing again and again the emotional again and again the emotional

mayhem of people who were trying mayhem of people who were trying to cope amidst overwhelming horror, to cope amidst overwhelming horror,

disbelief, fear and terrordisbelief, fear and terror . .

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Irresponsible Terminology

• SLA – 12 people are not an “army”

• their "operations" in the name of protecting the rights of "the people"

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Irresponsible Terminology

• People who kidnap and murder randomly whomever happens to be in the wrong place are not "students" or "saints" or "soldiers" or "freedom fighters,“ even if they portray themselves in such way.

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Payment for Terrorists’ Payment for Terrorists’ InterviewsInterviews

•TWA 847 - Allegations that ABC TWA 847 - Allegations that ABC paid Berri for interviewspaid Berri for interviews..

•ABC denied that this allegationABC denied that this allegation . .

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Irresponsible Mediation

• TWA847 - ABC’s David Hartman took upon himself the role of a mediator when he concluded a live interview with a spokesman for the Amal militia by asking:

• “Mr. Berri, any final words to President Reagan this morning?”

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Irresponsible Mediation

• The networks were also interviewing the hostages as if they were official U.S. emissaries perfectly free of coercion to speak their minds, serving the terrorists' interests in pressurizing the government.

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Dangerous SpeculationsDangerous Speculations

During the Hanafi Muslim takeover During the Hanafi Muslim takeover one reporter speculated that boxes one reporter speculated that boxes of ammunition were taken into the of ammunition were taken into the building in preparation for a police building in preparation for a police

assault when, in fact, they were assault when, in fact, they were boxes of food for the hostagesboxes of food for the hostages . .

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Dangerous SpeculationsDangerous Speculations

One radio reporter prompted Khaalis One radio reporter prompted Khaalis to mark ten hostages for execution to mark ten hostages for execution

after suggesting to the Hanafi leader after suggesting to the Hanafi leader that the police were trying to trick that the police were trying to trick

himhim . .

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Lack of Homework

• Khaalis was outraged when a misinformed reporter, Jim Bohannon of WTOP radio, called him “Black Muslim”

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Live Interviews during CrisisLive Interviews during Crisis

Interviews are a direct reward for the Interviews are a direct reward for the specific act of terrorism underway, specific act of terrorism underway,

and can interfere with efforts to and can interfere with efforts to resolve the crisisresolve the crisis . .

Such interviews all too often increase Such interviews all too often increase the spectacle of the event, spread the spectacle of the event, spread

fear, impede the negotiations fear, impede the negotiations between terrorists and authorities, between terrorists and authorities,

and provide a contrived platform for and provide a contrived platform for the terrorists’ viewsthe terrorists’ views..

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Live Interviews during CrisisLive Interviews during Crisis

Khaalis gave so many interviews that the Khaalis gave so many interviews that the lines were jammed and the authorities lines were jammed and the authorities

found it difficult to reach himfound it difficult to reach him..

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Live Interviews during Crisis:Live Interviews during Crisis: TWA 847, interview with John TWA 847, interview with John

TestrakeTestrake

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Live Coverage

• Photo of a dead man sitting inside the blasted No. 5 bus on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv (October 19, 1994).

• Family consideration

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Live Coverage: Iranian Embassy, London

• BBC and ITN, went live from the scene only after SAS had stormed the building and rescued the hostages.

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Staging EventsStaging Events

•During the Palestinian During the Palestinian Intifada Intifada of of 1987-1993, foreign reporters offered 1987-1993, foreign reporters offered

Palestinians money to initiate Palestinians money to initiate violence against Israeli forces: the violence against Israeli forces: the tariff was $50 for stone-throwing; tariff was $50 for stone-throwing;

$100 for Molotov cocktails$100 for Molotov cocktails

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Carrickmore, 1979

• BBC doing a piece on the Provisional IRA

• Received anonymous telephone call - something interesting in Carrickmore

• Hooded men, stopping cars

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Staging Events: Carrickmore

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Conclusions

This study shows the need for developing a set of guidelines for the media when covering terrorism. The

guidelines should include the following:

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Guidelines

• The media need to be accountable for the consequences of their coverage.

• The media should never jeopardize human life.

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GuidelinesGuidelines

The media are advised to The media are advised to cooperate with the government cooperate with the government

when human lives are at stake in when human lives are at stake in order to bring a peaceful end to order to bring a peaceful end to

the terrorist episodethe terrorist episode..The media should not glorify acts The media should not glorify acts

of terrorof terror . .

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Guidelines

• The media should refrain from sensational and panicky headlines, from inflammatory catchwords, and from needless repletion of photos from bloody scenes, compromising quality of reporting and replacing it with quantity.

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GuidelinesGuidelines

Terrorism should be explicitly condemned Terrorism should be explicitly condemned for its brutality and violent, indiscriminate for its brutality and violent, indiscriminate

naturenature..

The media must not pay for covering The media must not pay for covering terrorist incidentsterrorist incidents . .

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GuidelinesGuidelines

The media should not take upon themselves to The media should not take upon themselves to mediate between the terrorists and the mediate between the terrorists and the government. Special qualifications are government. Special qualifications are

required before one assumes such a required before one assumes such a responsibility upon oneself. Journalists are responsibility upon oneself. Journalists are

there to cover the event, not to become part there to cover the event, not to become part of itof it..

The media are expected to refrain from The media are expected to refrain from making dangerous speculations about the making dangerous speculations about the

terrorists' plans, government response, terrorists' plans, government response, hostages' messages and other concerns. hostages' messages and other concerns.

Speculations might hinder crisis managementSpeculations might hinder crisis management . .

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GuidelinesGuidelines

Media professionals are required to have Media professionals are required to have background information about the terrorists background information about the terrorists they cover. They should prepare homework they cover. They should prepare homework

prior coverageprior coverage..The media are advised not to broadcast live The media are advised not to broadcast live

terrorist incidents. This is not to say that the terrorist incidents. This is not to say that the media should not cover such incidents. media should not cover such incidents.

Rather, there should be a delay of a few Rather, there should be a delay of a few minutes during which an experienced editor minutes during which an experienced editor inspects the coverage and authorizes what inspects the coverage and authorizes what

should be on air and what should notshould be on air and what should not..

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Guidelines

• The media are advised not to interview terrorists while the incident is still in motion. Lines of communications between the authorities and the terrorists should be left open. The media should not impede the negotiations process.

• The media are advised not to cooperate with terrorists who stage events.

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GuidelinesGuidelines

The media are required to show The media are required to show sensitivity to the victims and to their sensitivity to the victims and to their

loved ones. This critical guideline loved ones. This critical guideline should be observed during terrorist should be observed during terrorist incidents and, no less importantly, incidents and, no less importantly,

also after their conclusionalso after their conclusion..The media are expected not to report The media are expected not to report

details that might harm victims’ details that might harm victims’ familiesfamilies..

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Guidelines

• The area in which the terrorist incident takes place better not be open for anybody who testifies that he or she is a journalist. Only senior and experienced reporters should be allowed in.

Thank youThank you