Bruce Allen Scharlau PhD thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText

258
There is a large difference between interest in the issue of terrorism
and the public's actual knowledge of the subject. 10
This is a sign of the paradox of terrorism that it seeks publicity
while trying to keep its organisational structure secret. The group may
have publicity, but its members are only suspected names until their
arrest. After the arrests come courtroom trials with more publicity, 11
and more terrorist incidents by other group members. However, this may
be true of the RAP, but does not apply to the RZ, which is shown below
in section three to only seek publicity for its causes, and not itself.
2. Terrorism and the Media
The last example and Figure 4.1 (page 115) in chapter four both
highlight the influence of the media on individuals and groups in
terrorism. The publicity of the media- -favourable or not- -has created
a symbiotic relationship between it and terrorism whereby the two are
possibly inseparably entwined. 12
The media provides a medium for the
terrorists f message, and coverage contributes to motivation for the
individuals and groups.
Some forms of terrorism cater particularily to the media because
they are "pseudo-events", planned or incited events for the primary
purpose of immediate reporting to wider audiences. This is in the manner
of New Left activities (like the 'pudding bomb' in chapter two) in the
late sixties and early seventies when New Left splinter groups turned to
terrorism to attract the mass media to break out of their isolation and
engender mass mobilisation. 13
Terrorist publicity campaigns have four main propaganda aims: (1) to
convey the 'propaganda of the deed t
through the target group;
with 'pseudo-events' and spread fear
(2) mobilise wider support for their cause
both at home and abroad by emphasising the righteousness of their cause
and its inevitable victory; ( 3 ) delegi timising the government and
10 Gerhard Unholzer, "Zielgruppenhandbuch fuer die
Oeffentlichkeitsarbeit gegen Terrorismus: Einstellungen der
Bevoelkerungen zum Terrorismusproblem", in: Bundesminiterium des Innem
(eds.), Ausseinandersetzung mit dem Terrorisrnus: MOeglichkeiten der
politischen Bildungsarbeit (Bonn: Bundesministerium des Innem, October
1981), 19-38, 19-22.
11 JOM Orr, "Terrorism as Social Drama and Dramatic Fonn", in: JOM
Orr, Dragan Klaic I ( eds. ) , Terrorism and Modem Drama (Edinburgh:
Edinburgh University Press, 1990, 48-63, 49, 51-2.
12 Abraham H. Miller, "Terrorism, the Media, and the Law: A
Discussion of the Issues", in: Abraham H. Miller (ed.), Terrorism r the
Media, the Law (Dobbs Ferry, NY: Transnational Publishers Inc., 1982),
13-50, 13.
13 Hozic I 64-81, 79, mentions as a counter example 1 the small
coverage of the abduction of aid workers in the Third World; Schmid
(1989), 541-3; Wilkinson (1986), 79-80.