Role Of Mass Media In Crusade Against Terrorism

This study examined the role of the media in the crusade against global terrorism. As a basis of the argument in this study, an attempt was made to illuminate the "interdependent" nature of the relationship between the media and terrorist which should help expose or explain the convention and narratives which have led to terrorism and how the people of the world have been able to benefit from the information of the media. Primary and secondary data were used in gathering information for the study. The secondary data was a review of documented materials, while the primary data was obtained with the help of questionnaires. Questionnaires were distributed to 100 respondents out of the students of different faculties in Kwara state polytechnic. Descriptive statistics and expository research design were used for the data collected. Based on the findings from the study, it was recommended that the government too should provide an avenue for the public to assist in the fight against terrorism. Also, the media should not magnify the fear and threat of the people in the way they report terrorism.

Introduction

1.1 Background to the Study

One of the major functions of the mass media is the provision of adequate information about ongoings or current events in the society as a way of serving the public what they need to know.

The news media in particular serve this basic human needs by providing information on WHO? , WHAT? , WHY? , WHERE? And HOW?, Relaying to the public. It is possible to argue that there is no particular time the public is more in need of information from the media than when the safety or even the survival of the public is threatened. In other words, the public is in greater need of more extensive information during a current danger in order to reduce uncertainty about the danger(Schlesinger, et al 1983:14) No wonder that the news media, particularly the broadcast media, become a relaying point of the public when terrorists strike.

Nevertheless, reporting on terrorism presents a number of "dilemma" and "paradoxes" to journalists whose responsibility is to inform the public "Objectively"; fairly" and "Accurately.

It is however, a dilemma to them because one of the main objectives of terrorist act is to maximize publicity in order to create a "psychological" effect on the public. This leads to some questions concerning the role of the media in reporting terrorism. For example, is the MEDIA acting as an accomplice to the aims of the terrorists by craving cheap publicity for them? Is the media not magnifying the threat and fear in the way they report terrorism instead of allaying the fear? Is the media reports of terrorism encouraging more of such acts as terrorists may be more emboldened by the massive publicity they gain for their terror and intensify the acts of terrorism? Are the media really objective and accurate in the way they report terrorism in their narrative and framing of the terrorist? How best should the media report incidents of terrorist violence? These are the complex questions that this article tries to put into perspective with the aim of providing a personal view point on how the media has been reporting terrorism. The aim of this article is not to provide absolute answers to the questions because I think there are no perfect answers or consensus on the complex issue of how the media reporter should report on terrorism. Rather, it simply argues that any form of political violence that goes unreported or not reported sensationally; it also argues that the simplification of terrorist acts without recourse to historical details and motives of the terrorist by the media has not been helpful in reducing acts of terrorism. If the media go beyond the rhetoric of the official perspective and stop labeling terrorists and defining their acts as evil against good and instead provide a deeper analysis of what motives such acts carry, the media would have gone a long way to resolve the "MENACE" that has deeply taken root in the fabric of our national and international relationship.

It should be noted that the history of terrorism is as old as man dealing with humans willingness to use violence to affect politics. However, global terrorism became a prominent issue in the late 1960"s when hijacking became a favored tactic.

As the basis of my argument in this study, I first attempt to illuminate the "interdependent" nature of relationship between the media and terrorist which should help expose or explain the convention and narratives which have led to terrorism and how the people of the world have been able to benefit from the information of the media. As I discuss these issues, I will draw on pertinent theories of mass communication ranging from those that explain various effects of mass media.

1.2 Objectives of the Study

The following are the Objectives of this study:

To enlighten the public and see how the media has influence the attacks of terrorist.

To see if the media have a positive or negative influence on the people.

To see if the media are publicizing the terrorist for their own interest, that is getting the attention of more viewers.

To examine the cause and effect of global terrorism on the people, government and the economy.

To see how the media has also assisted the government in fighting global terrorism.

1.3 Research Questions

For the purpose of this study, the following research questions will be considered

Is the media not magnifying the threat and fear of the people in the way they report terrorism?

What are the effects of media crusade against terrorism?

What roles should the media play in fighting against global terrorism?

To what extent do media report terrorism?

1.4 Significance of the Study

The significance of this study is to inform the people on how to help the media in fighting terrorism by giving information to the police and other organizations that fight against terrorism.

This study also explains how the media had contributed in the fight against terrorism.

It also proffers solutions and advice to the media on how to improve in their reportage of terrorism.

1.5 Scope of Study

This research work will be based on questionnaire that will be distributed among students.

This research has succeeded in asking 100 students about the ROLE OF MASS MEDIA IN THE CRUSADE AGAINST" GLOBAL TERRORISM.

Kwara State Polytechnic is our case of study and the responses of the students will be gathered after the first semester examination.

1.6 Operational Definition of Terms

Media:

This also can be referred to as a medium or a channel in which information is being passed to the audience, usually in mass communication.

Terrorist:

A group of people or persons that causes terror, violence, fear, nuisance, intimidation etc in a particular place.

News:

This can be referred to as fresh information a recent happening that is worth reporting.

Violence:

This is causing unrest in the society or any where, using great force to attack people, causing chaos etc

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations

5.1 Summary

This research work is primarily aimed at discovering "the role of the media in the crusade against global terrorism".
This research design is however descriptive and expository in nature, questionnaires were shared among students of Kwara State Polytechnic in their various institutes on their opinions or views on the "role of the media in the crusade against global terrorism"

The primary functions of the media are the provision of adequate information about ongoing or current events in the society as a way of serving the public what they need to know.

However, the motives came in a negative direction as findings show that the media do not justify issue about terrorist and that they magnify the fear and threat of the people in the way they report terrorists" activities.
In the view revealed vehemently by this research work according to the response of the respondents, a larger percentage feels that the media should give proper dissemination, good reporting, unbiased and accurately reporting about terrorism.

5.2 Limitation of the Study

This study is restricted to one polytechnic which is kwara state polytechnic due to the time frame. The time frame scheduled for the research work to be carried out is not too far sufficient to study more than one polytechnic or institution. In addition the researchers are still expected to meet other academic demands within the scheduled range of time.

Furthermore, the dilapidated and unequipped school library along side it"s outdated research materials also hampered the efficiency and smooth running of the literature review, this will make the researchers to strive for other sources to get other necessary materials for the work. Financial constrain has also limited the sample size, this has made the researchers to reduce the numbers of questionnaires and this has reduce the study of more people.

5.3 Conclusion

The dramatic narration and manners in which media report terrorist is the vital concern of many theorists who are interested in how the media have reported various terrorist acts. On this basis, the negative labeling and definition of the terrorist might have some effect in terms of how they are framed and primed in the mind of the audiences, nevertheless, the current news environment provides a site for a struggle against such framing and priming in the minds of the public.

However, terrorists must have publicity in some form if they are to gain attention, inspire fear and respect, secure favorable understanding, cooperation, restraint and loyalty in effort to limit terrorist harm to society and in efforts to punish or apprehend general pursue the freedom to cover and issues without restraint, especially government restraint.

The media, the news media in particular have been a ready accomplice for the achievement of the terrorist motives of creating fear in the minds of the public.

The media"s coverage of terrorism provokes both undue publicity for the terrorists and immeasurable fear, real or imaginary, in the minds of the public and thus, in the end, may embolden the terrorist to go further and raise the threshold of their violence. Livingstone (1982:63) argues that a heavy emphasis on the violent acts committed by terrorists may stimulate other terrorists to repeat the same crimes. In this view, there is evidence to suggest that detailed coverage of a terrorist act is apt to lead a rash of similar acts. In fact the contagion effect may spread beyond reducing the inhibition of the terrorists towards violence.

5.4 Recommendations

According to the finding of this research work, recommendable measures to be taken are suggested below:

Since the reportage of terrorist activities by the media is mostly for the benefit of the public, the government too should provide avenue for the public to assist the media. For example the emergency security number "911" should be active in all part of the country so that any member of the public can easily call any government authorities or security agent e.g. police, to report any suspicion or terrorist activities.

Furthermore, since the aim of the media is to help the public and assist them to be careful against terrorist attack, they (media) should not magnify the fear and threat of the people in the way they report about terrorism.
More so, all higher institution, Kwara State Polytechnic to be precise should include enlightenment about terrorism to their syllabus, since most youth now indulge in terrorist act.

Cover

Title

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Table of Contents

List(s) of Tables (and illustrations)

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background to the Study

1.2 Objectives of the Study

1.3 Research Questions

1.4 Significance of the Study

1.5 Scope of the Study

1.6 Operational Definition of Terms

Chapter Two

Theoretical Frame work and Literature Review

2.1 Theoretical Framework

2.2 Conceptual Frameworks

2.3 Research Study Review

Chapter Three

Research Design

3.1 Research Methodology

3.2 Population of the Study

3.3 Sample size and Sampling Techniques

3.4 Instrumentation

3.5 Validity and Reliability of the Instrument

3.6 Method of Administration of Instrument

3.7 Method of Data Analysis

Chapter Four

Data Analysis and Results

4.1 Analysis of Field Performance of the Instrument

4.2 Analysis of the Demographic Segment of the instrument

4.3 Analysis of Data on the Research Questions

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations

5.1 Summary

5.2 Limitation of the Study

5.3 Conclusion

5.4 Recommendations

References

Appendix

• Role Of Mass Media In Promoting Gender Equality In Nigeria
• Place Of Audience And Mass Media Content In Nigeria
• Influence Of Nigeria Mass Media On Political Campaign
• Role Of Mass Media In Crisis Management In Nigeria
• Role Of The Mass Media On The Attitude Of Teenagers On The Prevalence Of HIV/AIDS
• Effectiveness Of The Mass Media As An Instrument For National Development
• Challenges Of Mass Media Public Health Communication In Rural Communities

• Mass Communication Project Topics and Materials