NCJ Number
86149
Date Published
1982
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This paper presents guidelines from various sources for media coverage of prolonged terrorist incidents.
Abstract
Perhaps the most comprehensive study and guidelines for media coverage of incidents of extraordinary violence come from the National Advisory Committee on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals. The guidelines state that (1) factual journalistic coverage of extraordinary violence should be as accurate and complete as the availability of information permits; (2) editorials, features, and journalistic background pieces should place the incident in total context by reference to other problems of law enforcement and to related political and social issues; and (3) fictional presentations of extraordinary violence should be done responsibly so as not to glamorize or encourage such behavior. The report recommends that the general approach of the media to incidents of extraordinary violence should be one of minimum intrusiveness, which means that media representatives should avoid creating any obvious media presence greater than that required to collect full, accurate, and balanced information on the actions of participants and the official response to them. Other media guidelines outlined are those of CBS News, The Courier-Journal and the Louisville Times, the Sun-Times and Daily News (Chicago) standards for coverage of terrorism, and guidelines of United Press International. Twenty-four footnotes are listed.