The Relationship between the Media and Terrorism

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Some events, which are perpetrated by Jewish Zealots against Roman Occupiers and moderate Jews, contain basic characteristics of terrorist attacks and show the fact that terrorism existed even in the year 66 A.D. (Nacos 174). However, effects of these early terrorists attacks were relatively small and these attacks were not creating serious consequences like recent terrorist activities. So, even though terrorism is a very old concept, it became one of the most important factors that shape politics and social order all around the world with the new millennium. Especially just after 9/11, terrorism became not only a matter of politics and state businesses but also became a matter that affects ordinary people's lives because attacks of terrorist organizations take thousands of lives and promote fear among millions of people who are not directly targeted by terrorists. Since the affects of terrorist events are so significant and vital, the concept of terrorism and reasons that lies behind this increase on the influence of terrorism deserves attention. There are articles which indicate the news media as the main reason of the increase in the influence of terrorism. Obviously, there is more than one reason behind this increase on the influence of terrorism but even Margaret Thatcher, who is one of the former prime-ministers of the United Kingdom, agrees with the articles by defining the publicity which is provided by news coverage as the "oxygen" of terrorism (Nacos 175). That massive effect of the news media creates ethical problems about the news coverage of terrorism. However, the subject is not simple enough to solve by banning the news media from making news about terrorism or terrorist activities because it can be a violation of ...

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...eputations of others and/or the protection of national security or of public order, or of public health or morals"(Art. 19).
In addition, the European Convention on Human Rights has a similar understanding about freedom of expression with the International Covenant on Civil and Human Rights and show that in article 10 by saying this freedom can be restricted by laws. So, freedom of expression is not unlimited right for many democratic institutions and it can be subject of some restrictions in certain occasions like national security issues and terrorist activities are threats against national security and democracy. However, forbidding all news about terrorism because of this understanding might be unacceptable but according to these articles, governments or law authorities have the right to prevent the media from giving coverage to terrorism in some emergencies.

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