Terrorist groups have lately realised that violence alone is not the best course towards gaining an overall victory for their cause. Sophisticated terrorist organisations like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al Qaeda realise that, in addition to violence, propaganda is needed for the successful orchestration of their activities. Whether it is television, radio or the internet, terrorist organisations understand that these instruments are valuable in instilling fear and panic and have devastating psychological effects on governments and citizens.
Recently, three workers associated with Express News television were killed when unidentified attackers of the TTP opened fire on a digital satellite news gathering van in Karachi’s Nazimabad area. “We (TTP) accept responsibility. We would like to present some of the reasons. At present, the Pakistani media is playing the role of (enemies and spread) venomous propaganda against the TTP. They have assumed the (role of) an opposition. We had intimated the media earlier and warn it once again that (they must) side with us in this venomous propaganda,” TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told Express News.
Terrorist attacks are useless if no one knows about them. As the old saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Images, especially video images, of bombed buildings, bloody corpses and frightened hostages are much more memorable than print or audio reports of the same incidents. Committing and claiming responsibility for a terrorist attack is one of the most effective ways to obtain free global publicity for one’s cause.
Other than the internet and printed material, terrorists have sought out other means for broadcasting their ideologies. All terrorist organisations need a large audience, and they have learned to exploit the media’s own procedure to maximise their reach. In executing violent acts, terrorist organisations hope to draw attention through news media, which broadcasts their violent activities across the country and across the globe.
The media also gives the twisted version of celebrity status to these individuals. Broadcasting their names and pictures across the screen and giving them credit for these heinous acts serves only to inflate warped egos. If the media stops giving credit and attention to the perpetrators and instead focuses on the heinous nature of the attack and the plight of the families of the dead and injured, it might take away from the terrorists’ inherent need for publicity.
The aim of terrorist organisations is to be treated like regular, accepted, legitimate world leaders. According to TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan, “The media must mend its behaviour and do balanced reporting, which is impartial, which is transparent and not tainted with propaganda.”
The media may directly or indirectly serve the interests of terrorists by simplifying stories for the viewer to the point that it has little to do with the actual events. Repeating traumatic scenes and stories may also serve terrorists, as the goal of the terrorists is to be in the media as often and as long as possible.
The one thing that is indisputable is that the Pakistani media feeds on the violence of terrorist acts; whosoever can tell the most violent story wins the audience. This is not really about freedom of speech, but rather a morbid desire to acquire the biggest audience and consequently harvest the material benefits. In a country where the government maintains tight control of the media, like China or North Korea, terrorist tactics are nearly useless.
The following recommendations can be implemented to minimize the media-related effects of terrorism: we ought to have news coverage with less repetition of horrific scenes, less traumatic images, less sensationalism and more information — these are essential in the first place. The media should present its story to the audience fairly and accurately, without bias, so that the audience can form its own opinion of the news and/or story. To avoid panicking the audience, the media should use plain language that everybody can understand. Since no two terrorist groups are alike, the media should differentiate between different types of terrorism and terrorist groups. Government-media partnership should be formed for better and accurate background of any terrorism-related act.
Terrorist attacks are designed to create an atmosphere of fear or a sense of threat. In any case, the terrorists need media publicity and the media needs a greater audience and profits. It must be responsible about how it highlights this pressing issue.
The writer is currently working for Fortune 100 Companies as an IT consultant. He tweets @fawadrehman