Abstract
This chapter examines the approaches to the study of terrorism that emphasise its communicative dimension. The field’s conceptual gaps highlighted in the first chapter particularly help in placing into context the current problems in making sense of the role of the media. Indeed, Brian Simmons (1991: 36) observes that “much literature concerning the mass media’s coverage of terrorism is speculative in nature”: “Often, sweeping statements are made without any substantive proof.” Robert Picard (1991), assessing the “contagion hypothesis” — the idea that media reporting of terrorism generates more of it — talks about “dubious science” (ibid.: 49) and a “lack of scientifically acceptable evidence” supporting the arguments (ibid.: 60). David Paletz and John Boiney (1992: 12) write that the literature which tends to see media coverage as beneficial to terrorists is marked “by a reliance on the same incidents and on anecdotal information.” Jeffrey Ross (2007: 215–216), reviewing research on the relationship between media and terrorism finds that “there is a striking similarity among ... monographs; they cover many of the same topics and often reprint well-cited journal articles, therefore adding little new information.”
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2013 Cristina Archetti
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Archetti, C. (2013). Terrorism, Communication, and the Media. In: Understanding Terrorism in the Age of Global Media. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137291387_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137291387_3
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-34780-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-29138-7
eBook Packages: Palgrave Media & Culture CollectionLiterature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)