NCJ Number
55492
Journal
Indiana Law Journal Volume: 53 Issue: 4 Dated: (SUMMER 1978) Pages: 717-744
Date Published
1978
Length
28 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BROADCAST MEDIA AND TERRORISTS, AND RECOMMENDS A NEW STANDARD OF VOLUNTARY SELF-CONTROL FOR THE MEDIA THAT WOULD REPLACE THEIR TRADITION OF UNRESTRAINED COVERAGE.
Abstract
THE TECHNOLOGICAL CAPACITY OF JOURNALISTS TO PRODUCE BROADCASTS OF TERRORISTS' ACTIVITIES AS THEY HAPPEN HAS ELIMINATED THE FUNCTION OF JOURNALISTIC EDITING. THE MEDIA'S LIBERTARIAN TRADITION OF BROADCASTING THE NEWS REGARDLESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES NOW HAS THE CAPACITY OF REVEALING TO TERRORISTS THE STRATEGIES OF POLICE AT THE MOMENT WHEN SUCH INFORMATION COULD THWART POLICE OPERATIONS AND ENDANGER HOSTAGES. INCIDENTS IN WHICH MINOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN PUBLICIZED INTO TERRORIST SITUATIONS RAISE IMPORTANT ETHICAL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE RISKS OF LIVE REPORTING OF CRIMES. THE TRADITION OF MORAL NEUTRALITY BY THE MEDIA APPEARS TO BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE BECAUSE IT EQUATES THE ACTIONS OF THE TERRORIST WITH THOSE IN OPPOSITION TO TERRORISM. RATHER THAN SERVING AS A CRUSADER FOR A CLIMATE OF REASON, THE NEUTRAL JOURNALIST MERELY ACTS AS A 'GAME SHOW HOST' IN A CONTEST BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE TERRORISTS. SELF-DISCIPLINE ON THE PART OF THE MEDIA IN ITS PRESENTATION OF TERRORIST ACTIONS IS URGED. WITHOUT SUCH VOLUNTARY RESTRAINT, THE MEDIA RISKS GOVERNMENTAL PRESSURES AND RESTRICTIONS WHICH ALSO AFFECT THE GREATER INTERESTS OF A WELL-INFORMED, BUT UNINTIMIDATED PUBLIC. SAMPLE GUIDELINES FOR BROADCASTERS ARE DISCUSSED. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)