Argumentative Essay: TERORRISM SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN MEDIA PUBLICITY

As we know, terrorism has threatened the human population for as long as humans have existed. According to Oxford dictionaries (2002), terrorism is a person or thing that causes intense fear while terrorism is the systemic use of violence and intimidation to achieve some goal. When these acts are carried out, the mass media would be the first to report that help spread fear and spread awareness about message and motives behind the attack. The relationship between terrorism and the media is still an ongoing threat that spares no country and the media coverage. So, there are some reasons terrorism should not be given media publicity which are gives terrorist opportunity to recruit more member and use media publicity to terrify our people that create a climate of fear.

The main reasons terrorism should not be given media publicity because it gives terrorist opportunity to recruit more member. Based on research from Mcleod (2009) found that mass media can be as a strategic persuasion tool to recruit some members of terrorism. For allowing them to be seen by the public enables them to be seen by potential sympathizers, who are thus more easily brought into the folds of terrorism themselves. This is particularly true when understanding the psychology of potential sympathizers, who are already deeply resentful towards the societies or states targeted by terrorism, and thus particularly vulnerable to persuasion by dramatic attacks and promises of vengeance or martyrdom.

The second reasons terrorism should not be given media publicity because terrorist use media publicity to terrify our people that create a climate of fear. According to research from Vriens (2012), the goal of terrorists is to incite fear among people. The publicity that terrorist attacks get, and the dramatic, bloody, terrifying image that they create is repellent in its own right, using our own media to terrify our people and create a climate of fear. Furthermore, it serves to disrupt people’s daily lives by terrifying them away from certain activities (using public transport, air travel, travelling to certain countries, attending public meetings, etc.). This can also encourage a social backlash against ethnic, religious or political groups associated with the terrorists.

However, some people have tried to point out contrary sides of reason terrorism should not be given media publicity because citizens and the world community have a right to be informed. When people get informed about the news of terrorism, people can anticipate to go to some public places where bomb could be exist. The information can give positive impact for people.

In conclusion, terrorism should not be given media publicity because it will make negative side effects for people. For some people, terrorism still have positive sides informing citizens and the world community about terrorism. I think that terrorism should not be given media publicity. It because those reasons that I already explained with some evidence above, which are gives terrorist opportunity to recruit more member and use media publicity to terrify our people that create a climate of fear.

References:

Vriens, Eva. 2012. Inciting fear for terrorism: a critical review of current counter-terrorism policies and how they increase fear. Retrieved from https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/522/full.pdf  on May 20, 2018.

Oxford Dictionary. 2002. Definition of terrorism in English. Retrieved from https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/terrorism on May 20, 2018.

Mcleod, Douglas M., 2009. The Role of the Media in the Recruitment of Terrorists: Mass Communication and the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of Muslims in Indonesia. Retrieved from http://www.start.umd.edu/research-projects/role-media-recruitment-terrorists-mass-communication-and-battle-hearts-and-minds on May 20, 2018.