Media Perceptions of Terrorism Pre and Post 9/11

• In Event: Posters II

Abstract

There is little research that examines media perceptions of terrorism. However, over the past 30 years, perceptions of terrorism have changed dramatically due to the devastating attack on the World Trade Center. Since 9/11, the media has contributed to the increased fear of terrorism by over reporting and presenting one-sided biases, such as associating specific ethnicities with terrorism. It is important to be aware of media perceptions of terrorism because they can impact crime control and security policies globally. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how the media contributes to America’s perceptions of terrorism pre and post 9/11. By utilizing a content analysis, national newspapers such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and online databases, such as Lexis-Nexis were used to gather a sample of articles describing terrorist activities. Variations of the words: terror, terrorist, Al-Qaeda, terrorist groups, terrorism, terror networks, martyrs, radicals, and war on terror were used to determine themes in reporting. The analysis indicated that the media was more inclined to use the word terrorist after 9/11, supporting the idea of a fear-induced mindset among Americans. This has ultimately affected counter terrorism policies and homeland security tactics.

Authors

• Courtney Lynn Vaught-Candage, California State University, Long Beach

• Becky Nash, California State University, Long Beach