Terrorism and the Media
Amplifying the Terrorists' Impact: The Media as Unwilling Allies to the
Terrorists’ Agenda
Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.Department of Psychology
University at Buffalo
www.PsychologyofTerrorism.com
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Terrorist Acts are Often Well Calculated
Terrorists seek change through the use of fear and intimidation
Terrorists always ‘play’ to an audience
Specific terrorist tactics are often employed to maximize the impact of their activities
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Terrorism is a Type of Psychological Warfare
Conventional warfare makes extensive use of psychological ‘warfare’ to amplify its impact
Terrorism relies almost exclusively on psychological ‘warfare’ for its intended impact
It’s all in the perception of danger
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Terrorism is Directed to a Larger Audience
Terrorism is intended to instill terror in a larger target audience
Terrorism can also be intended to recruit more supporters
The media are critically important to achieving both of these goals
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Role of the Media in the Genesis of Terror
Victims of the terrorists’ physical attack provide the ‘signal’
Media amplify and disseminate the ‘signal’ or message
Target audience responds with terror, providing the impetus for capitulating to the terrorists’ demands for change
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Media Magnifier
LimitedPhysical Attack Media
World-Wide Publicity
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Perception of Threat• 9/11 attack killed less than 3,500
people• Flu kills around 36,000 annually
Are you afraid of the flu?
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Media as Terrorist ‘Recruiters’
Terrorist groups sometimes attempt to gain popular support for their agenda (e.g., publicize their cause), not just impart terror in the ‘suppressive’ population or regime
The tactics necessary for this objective are somewhat different than the other tactics commonly used by terrorist organizations
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Terrorists Playing the Media for Gaining Popular Support
Identify the social, political, economic, or religious injustice
Identify the responsible target Demonstrate the ability to strike
and do harm to the target Demonstrate a commitment and
the resolve to continue the fight until the goal is achieved
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
A Terrorist Recruiter
Emerge with the perception of being unrelenting freedom fighters for a just and noble cause supported by the oppressed masses rising-up against a cruel and brutal regime
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Terrorism Support Base
Actual terrorists
Active supporters
Passive supporters
Sympathizers
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Media Coverage and the Terrorist Agenda
The media are (mostly unwilling) allies of the terrorists• media want the ‘story’• terrorists want their ‘message’ spread
Media have a lot of control over the impact of terrorist activity
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Terrorists’ Impact Facilitated by the Media
Terrorist strive to amplify the impact of their actions
Media play an important role• perspective of media coverage
including descriptive language• prevalence of media coverage
• number of media sources• duration of coverage• detail of coverage
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Importance of Language
Selection of specific words has an important impact on the perception of events• cognitive• emotional
Language can either favorably or unfavorably portray the same event
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
What’s in a Word?
Consider the following words• freedom fighter• insurgent• terrorist
(positive connotation)
(neutral connotation)
(negative connotation)
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Words to Soften the Impact
near miss casualties
collateral damage
detainee
near crash killed or seriously
injured civilians killed or
injured (civilian casualties)
prisoner
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Similar Denotations—Different Conations
Positive• freedom fighter• liberator• peacekeeper
More Neutral• insurgent• kill
Descriptive Label• antiabortion• reproductive choice
Negative• terrorist• invader• occupier
Less Neutral• rebel• murder
Propaganda Label• ProLife• ProChoice
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Subtle but Important
Liberator—good Invader—bad Foreign Invader—worse
“foreign” invader has a special connotation in the Middle East; it unites otherwise belligerent Arabic factions to fight the “common enemy” and may form the basis for a Jihad and martyrdom
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Other Important Choices in Word Selection
•Crusader•Infidel•Jihad
Anti-Western RhetoricThese terms are commonly used in the Arabic media
and the last term is sometimes used worldwide.The terms have different implications for Arabic and Western cultures.
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Different Portrayals of the Same Event
Terrorists detonated an improvised explosive device near the hospital of the peacekeeping forces. There were numerous U.S. military and Iraqi casualties from the explosion. The insurgents continue their indiscriminant attack of U.S. facilities without regard for strategic value. (American media version)
Freedom fighters detonated a bomb near the base of the crusaders. The tremendous blast killed several of the foreign occupiers and severely injured many more of their collaborators. The resistance fighters continue to carry the Jihad to the camps of the foreign invaders leaving the infidels no safe haven. (Arabic media version)
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Stupid Blunder or Deliberate Setup?
In Arabic nations, the colors of flags have widely recognized meanings.
Green, white and black denote Islam -- harkening back to the battle banners of the medieval Islamic dynasties of the Fatimids, Ummayads and Abbasids. Green is said to have been the prophet Muhammad's favorite color; the Saudi, Libyan, Algerian and Mauritanean flags are completely or largely green.
The only Arab League members to have any blue in their flag are the African nations of Djibouti and Somalia.
US-picked Iraqi leaders declare a new flag that breaks with Hussein -- and the rest of Arab world. By Lee Keath, Associated Press | April 26, 2004 [excerpts]
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
How to Lose the Propaganda War
Cultural insensitivity often aids the terrorists• Re-design of the Iraqi flag using the color of the Israeli
flag (blue) feeds the perception of Zionist conquest• President Bush’s use of the term “crusade” inflamed the
Moslem world• Western world--noble, righteous cause• Islamic world--invasion by infidels
• Osama bin Laden had already referred to the “Zionists/Crusaders in his 1998 fatwa and elsewhere
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
U.S. PsyOps and Intell No-Brainers
“Surrender or die” in Afghanistan Air strike called in by Afghan warlord
on wedding party “Crusade” to liberate Iraq “He’s a terrorist!” accusation by other
Iraqi prisoners “We are here to kill you. Come out
and fight” (Falluja offensive)?
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
More Choice Terms
Detention center vs. prison Enemy combatant vs. POW
(also has legal distinction) Intensive interrogation vs. torture Execution vs. murder
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
“Bad” Language from Lazy Mouths
Terrorism vs. terror Suicide bomber vs. homicide
bomber
Poor word choices, but probably don’t change the meaning. (Both from Fox News?)
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Language Economy can Change the Emphasis
Beheading—method of execution formerly used in France and some Middle Eastern countries• quick & painless
Cutting off the head [of a live victim]—gruesome method of killing someone• much slower & much more painful
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Language “Battleground”
Terrorism is ‘fought’ in the psychological realm—perception is everything
Word choice and narrative have an important influence on the psychological impact
Don’t concede the language ‘war’—fight on all fronts
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Media Wars & Pandering to an Audience
Left-wing, right-wing slant• Some “news” presentations are
obviously biased, pandering to an existing audience
• Other “news” presentations may appear neural but attempt to persuade by subtle propaganda
• “Fair and balanced” or fairly balancing? (the Fox spins too)
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Tacit Support of the Terrorist Organization
Graphic portrayal of the injustice Personification of the terrorists’ target
as evil and inhumane Presentation of the terrorists as
• representing the suppressed• a rational, goal-directed organization• minimizing harm to innocent people• (and on the side of God, if possible)
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Information Sources
News Media Government Sources Internet First-hand accounts Personal experience
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
News Sources
Broadcast Media• television• radio• Internet
Printed Media• newspapers• magazines
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
American-Based Television Networks
Broadcast• ABC• CBS• Fox• NBC• PBS
Cable • CNN/CNN
Headline News• CSPAN• Fox News• MSNBC/CNBC
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Non-American Satellite Networks
English Language• British
• BBC/BBC World• Granada• Sky News
• Canadian (regional broadcast/cable)
• CBC• CTV
Arabic Language• Qatar
• Al Jazeera
• United Arab Emirates• Al Arabiya
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Newspapers
American (National Distribution)• Christian Science
Monitor• LA Times• New York Times• U.S.A. Today• Wall Street Journal• Washington Post
Non-American (English Language)• International Herald
Tribune• The Times (London)
Arabic (with English versions online)• Cairo• Lebanon
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
News Wire Services
Associated Press (AP) Reuters
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Government Information Sources
White House, Pentagon & related press offices
Senate & House committees Government web sites Government reports Individual government officials
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Internet Information Sources
Media linked (e.g., ABC, BBC, CBS, CNN)
Government• United States (e.g., FBI, State Department)
• Foreign (e.g., British Home Office, MI-5)
Non-government• organizations (FAS, Rand Corporation)
• companies (e.g., Black Hawk Security)
• individuals (www.PsychologyofTerrorism.com)
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Information Bias
All information sources direct their presentations to an intended audience• Some risk losing their intended audiences if
they present inaccurate information • Others pander to the bias of their intended
audience and risk losing their audience if they present unbiased reports
Some media ‘sell’ sensationalism All media want the ‘big story’
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Evaluating Sources of Information
Use a variety of information sources
Note how the same information is presented differently by different sources
Recognize that even biased information sources have some ‘grain of truth’ in their reporting
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Evaluating Sources of Information, continued
Recognize the motivation of the reporting agency and examine its possible bias• nobody does it for “free”
• mass media may be ‘selling newspapers’ or pushing their own social-political agenda
• government and other sources may be amplifying, blunting, or filtering the information for propaganda purposes
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Analyzing Information
Use common sense and logic Remember that bias is present both
in the information source AND in the recipient of the information• avoid prejudice and stereotypes• try to negate psychological processes
that distort information processing• seek feedback for reality testing
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Media Censorship of ‘Sensitive’ Stories
Media self-censorship• verifying story & factual information• considering impact of story
• softening impact• omitting story
Government censorship• limiting media access• ‘clearing’ news stories
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Open Source Information
During World War II, German spies often used public sources for acquiring intelligence
During the Cold War, Soviet spies often used public sources for acquiring intelligence; the same information was classified in the Soviet Union
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Compromising Information from the Media?
5,000 U.S. troops are taking part in the Mosel offensive
U.S. estimates there are 7,000 insurgents in Mosel
U.S. troops had to be moved from protecting Basara
Offensive uses many Humvees vulnerable to low angle IEDs
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
Terrorist Setup?
One surrendering resistance fighter innocently killed is worth scores of enemy dead
One ‘innocent’ woman and child killed at a roadside checkpoint ‘buys’ hundreds of new terrorist supporters
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Media as the Terrorists’ Ally
Terrorism is all about perception• perception of the ‘just cause’ the
terrorists are fighting for• perception that the “ends justify the
means” (and there is no alternative)• perception of popular support for the
terrorists’ ‘cause’• perception of the severity of the terrorist
threat
Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.
The Media “Battleground”
Media have a profound influence on the perception of events• much of the ‘war’ is fought in the media
• propaganda is a primary weapon• everybody spins the story
• a successful “war on terrorism” requires controlling the spin and winning the propaganda ‘war’