Terrorism, Coverage of

How Media and Journalists Cover Terrorism

Though every case of terrorism is arguably unique, journalists appear to approach major acts of political violence in similar ways. Journalists treat these events much like other major crises. Prominent, in-depth, and even saturation coverage generally follows, sometimes driving all other news off the front pages or lead broadcasts. The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks dominated the news for weeks after, to the extent of almost eliminating other news. Similarly, the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania remained the top story in newspapers in the two countries struck for almost 2 weeks, replacing other stories. Scholars such as Brigitte Nacos have argued that even relatively minor terror attacks—such as the World Trade Center bombing in 1993, or the burning of various new housing developments by “eco-terrorists” in the early years of the 21st century—merit substantial coverage, due to their newsworthiness.

Terrorism journalism borrows from other reporting genres, such as those for disasters, crime, and war. Like disasters, major terror attacks create a crisis atmosphere and lead to a focus on the rescues and emergency personnel, victims, and their loved ones left behind, the damage (physical or otherwise) caused, and the healing or repair of it in the aftermath. The search for those responsible; the investigation into the meaning, planning, and execution of the attacks; and later postmortem reports such as those by blue-ribbon panels parallel quite closely the motifs of crime journalism.

If a military or police-type response from the government is launched, such as is the case after major terrorist incidents, then a combat mode of reporting is utilized, as the retaliation is chronicled and evaluated for its degree of success. The degree of adherence to these elements depends upon the nature of the violence: a hostage crisis, for example, or a lone gunman will probably be portrayed only as a crime drama. Yet, in major terror attacks, a pattern does emerge: the initial shock, horror, and disaster response followed by the investigation, the pursuit of the culprits, and a judicial or military response.

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