Terrorism below has been examined within the concept of "Death of Dance" - the term coined by the US communications specialist James E.Lukaszewski (1987). Here (media and terrorism) two-sided profits are pursued: on the one hand media needs a success story and on the other side - terrorism offers its ideological and violent story that definitely gains interest of any news organization, outlet etc all over the world. In addition, the examination of the old media (newspapers, television), new media (internet) and the newest media (different versions of social media) in comparison will be taken. A more specific case of study is ISIS.

1. “Dance of Death”
Media and Terrorism
Tiiu Pohl - 2019

2. Tiiu Pohl
Media and Terrorism

3. Terrorism and media - “Dance of Death
American PR analyst James E.Lukaszewski (1987):
“Dance of Death”
 for one side - political of ideological success (TERRORISM)
 for the other side – commercial success (MEDIA)

4. Terrorism and media - “Dance of Death
Media and terrorism
 feed each other
 use each other
 have identical interests
 make the “story”
Paradoxes
 Media – provides audience for terrorists?
 Media - “the best friend “of terrorist?

5. Terrorism and media
Brian Jenkins (1974) – expert on terrorism
TERRORISM
 = Theater
 = Cruel theater
 = Scenario by terrorists
 = Play with media

6. Terrorism and media
Terrorism and media - what is common?
 Extraordinary political message
 Influence - public opinion
 Influence - decision makers

7. Terrorism and media
Examples of influence
 1972 – Olympic games – information of wider audience
 1985 “TWA case“ - Influence on political decision-makers
 2004 – Madrid train bombing; influence on general elections
 2014-2018 – ISIS – total influence

8. Terrorism and media
Open/closed information
Press
 No news – has to be “done”
 “Soft” news (relatives, friends of hostages)
 Real news - covered

9. Terrorism and new media
Social media
 Quick
 Persuasive
 Cheap
 Worldwide

10. Media and terrorism
ISIS - Middle East – strategic communication
 Iraq - start
 Syria - territory
 Iran - against
 Libya - inspiration
 Turkey - against

11. Terrorism and new media
Social media and counter-terrorism
(“Divided Democracy …,” 2017)
September – December 2014
 ISIS supporters used - at least 46,000 Twitter accounts
Mid-2015 and late 2016
 Twitter suspended 360,000 accounts … believed to be
associated with terrorism
 CASE: ISIS

12. Media and terrorism
For further information about the slides, please contact
tiiupohl@gmail.com