In the years following the September 11 attacks we, citizens of Western countries, have become aware of terrorism. After the bombing in Madrid and London it became apparent that at any time we could be targets of new attacks in our own countries. These attacks took the lives of thousands of people and left deep scars in society. The fear for terrorism increased significantly after the 9/11 attacks. Naturally, we are afraid of (the threat of) massive (political) violence. And with so much media coverage on the terrorism and the war against it is no wonder people are afraid.

Fear is a long lasting and profound result of terrorism. I think fear in society also follows other incidents that cause extensive damage and possibly many casualties (but which are not considered terrorism). Think of the attack on the Royal family in Apeldoorn on Queen’s day 2009 or the recent shooting in a shopping mall in Alphen aan de Rijn. I call these public crisis situations.

Some say the media play a role in creating fear. In his essay “marketing fear” Chermak describes how fear for terrorism is generated by mass media. This is based on four factors. (To shorten the introduction to the topic I have placed the four factors on another page. If you would like to read them, please click here.)

I believe that extensive and manipulative media coverage on terrorism increases our fear for it. I also believe this is true in cases of public crisis situations that involve violence and casualties, such as the attack on Queen’s day and the shooting in Alphen aan de Rijn, but which are clearly no terrorist attacks. Therefore the statement of this debate is:

Extensive media coverage on terrorism and other public crisis situations increases our level of fear for such happenings.

In other words, people’s level of fear for large-scale public violence and threats to their safety increases following extensive media reporting on such events.

Feel free to share your thoughts! They are more than welcome and really help me out for my assignment. Thanks!

Here follow the four factors of Chermak, who claims they increase our levels of fear.

• Mass media are the main access to information for us. Obviously, people turn to TV, newspapers and radio to get informed about a terrorist attack or other violent act in society.
• The public fails to think critically and don’t further investigate what these media say. Unaware that the information presents only a part of the whole story, the public regards the information as true, objective and complete. But it is not.
• Media bring news framed and selective; they filter their information to create a sort of order and shape the situation (terrorist threat or other social crisis) for better understanding by the public.
• The incident receives a lot media attention, blowing the subject out of proportions and exaggerating the actual danger. Another writer speaks of a “media preoccupation” of brutal violence, which results in either tedious repeating happenings in the news or the over-analysis with various perspectives in a form of entertainment, like videos, games of films. The story told in the media then looses touch with reality and we become afraid of a threat that is hardly as big as portrayed in the media.

Please, click here to return to the debate and to share your toughts.

Merry Christmas and the best wishes for 2010!

More and new pictures at the photo page!