By Skandha Gunasekara
While many have openly criticised the positions taken by the media which played a major role in how the events were laid out to the public, as well as shaping public perception of the tragedy and those responsible in the aftermath of the shocking Easter Sunday terror attacks,The Sunday Morning sought to address some of the shortcomings of the media and how they could be rectified.
How equipped are local media institutes when covering terror related and other sensitive topics? What areas in particular should the media pay special attention to when reporting? How has Sri Lankan media failed? What steps can a government take to address media issues while respecting freedom of expression? These are some of the questions that must be answered if Sri Lankan media is to mature and develop further to ensure responsible reporting.Former senior journalist Dinesh Dodangoda voiced some of his expert opinions in this regard.
Dodangoda , speaking to The Sunday Morning on the role and responsibilities of the press, especially when covering sensitive matters such as terrorist attacks, pointed out that the media needs to have the correct attitude when reporting such an event and first developan understandingof the objectives of a terrorist attack and what the terrorists wanted.
“My opinion is that the media has to be equipped with the correct psychology to understand the impact of their reporting. It is important to have the right attitude when reporting sensitive issues because at the end of the day, terrorism also wants to change the attitude of the public. It is a mind game. So it is important to understand the psychological impact of one’s reporting; unknowingly, the media could report in a favourable manner to the terrorist, which will then unintentionally support the terrorist’s objectives,” he said.
He said that there were three components to a terror attack: The terrorist, the victims, and the audience.
“The victim is not the only target. Those who see the tragedy, the audience, are also a target,” he observed, noting that terror strikes were also a form of communication for terrorists.He said terrorists needed the media to spread their messages and therefore, the media must be careful in their reporting.
He said that violence had high news value and when terrorists carry out violent attacks, the media could not afford to not report such incidents: “One major issue is the media is attracted to violence.”
“That is how the relationship between the media and terrorists is established,” he said.
Deciphering the terrorist mind-set
Dodangoda then said that in order for the media to not unintentionally help terrorists reach their objectives, the former must identify the socio-psychological objectives terrorists want from an attack.
Accordingly, Dodangoda pointed out that one such objective was to demonstrate the vulnerability and incompetence of a government by successfully carrying out attacks.
“This will challenge the legitimacy of a government,” he noted.
He said another objective was to attract broader sympathy for the terrorist and their ideologies by carefully selecting targets.
Referring to the 1979 assassination of Lord Mountbatten by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), Dodangonda highlighted a conversation between IRA propaganda head Daniel Morrison and a New Zealand journalist where Morrison reveals the significance of the assassination.
“The journalist asked why they had killed Mountbatten as it had no military value. Morrison had then pointed out that the only reason the journalist was talking to Morrison was because of the assassination of Mountbatten. It was a symbolic kill to boost IRA propaganda and get media attention,”
Dodangoda then pointed out that the Easter Sunday attacks too had significance apart from causing death and destruction.
“The attack on the hotels and foreigners symbolised the terrorist group’s hatred towards western interests and lifestyle,” he said, adding that the targeting of churches was to further the anti-Christian agendas.
Terrorists also seek to cause polarisation among communities through their attacks, Dodangoda said.
“Soon after the attacks, the Sinhala community in Sri Lanka began looking at all Muslims as terrorist while Muslims began behaving in a defensive manner,” he said.
Such polarisation is important as it goes along way in helping terrorist and extremist outfits such as the ISIS or the National ThowheedJamath(NTJ) to recruit more personnel to their cadre.
“Terror attacks will push some segments of society and communities to sympathise with terrorists and their cause,”
The way forward
Upon coming to terms with these basic principles of the deeper agendas of a terrorist attack, the media could not only report responsibly but also aid counter terrorism activities.
One of the main effects on society immediately after a terror attack is the widespread panic and anxiety.
The media could and should play a significant role in containing and controlling this mass panic.
Dodangoda said that the government with the help of the media must take immediate steps to inform the public of the situation on the ground.
“There was an information vacuum directly after the Easter Sunday attack, resulting in mass panic and anxiety. The people need to be informed of the situation when such a catastrophe happens. So the government must utilise the media and get out as much information as possible to the people and urge for calm,”
In addition, the media working alongside the government can also build public confidence in the security forces.
“The media can show that the security forces have found possible vulnerable targets and have deployed additional security. Such methods too will help control mass panic in the aftermath of an attack,” Dodangoda said.
With regard to what steps can be taken to ensure responsible and transparent reporting on sensitive issues, Dodangoda said that there were a few techniques that could be followed.
“One would be for the government to impose censorship on the press,” he said.
However, this option would come at the cost of democracy and the freedom of the press.
Therefore, the most ideal choice would be for the media industry to self-regulate.
“For this to be successful, media institutes, especially owners of such institutes, must be prepared to allow free and fair reporting void of any bias or political agendas,” Dodangoda said.
Furthermore, the media personnel too would be needed to be given at least the bare minimum in training on how to report on sensitive matters.
“If the media industry bosses are willing to take these steps, it will not only make for a better democracy but for a better society and country as well,” he said.
While many have openly criticised the positions taken by the media which played a major role in how the events were laid out to the public, as well as shaping public perception of the tragedy and those responsible in the aftermath of the shocking Easter Sunday terror attacks,The Sunday Morning sought to address some of the shortcomings of the media and how they could be rectified.
How equipped are local media institutes when covering terror related and other sensitive topics? What areas in particular should the media pay special attention to when reporting? How has Sri Lankan media failed? What steps can a government take to address media issues while respecting freedom of expression? These are some of the questions that must be answered if Sri Lankan media is to mature and develop further to ensure responsible reporting.Former senior journalist Dinesh Dodangoda voiced some of his expert opinions in this regard.
Dodangoda , speaking to The Sunday Morning on the role and responsibilities of the press, especially when covering sensitive matters such as terrorist attacks, pointed out that the media needs to have the correct attitude when reporting such an event and first developan understandingof the objectives of a terrorist attack and what the terrorists wanted.
“My opinion is that the media has to be equipped with the correct psychology to understand the impact of their reporting. It is important to have the right attitude when reporting sensitive issues because at the end of the day, terrorism also wants to change the attitude of the public. It is a mind game. So it is important to understand the psychological impact of one’s reporting; unknowingly, the media could report in a favourable manner to the terrorist, which will then unintentionally support the terrorist’s objectives,” he said.
He said that there were three components to a terror attack: The terrorist, the victims, and the audience.
“The victim is not the only target. Those who see the tragedy, the audience, are also a target,” he observed, noting that terror strikes were also a form of communication for terrorists.He said terrorists needed the media to spread their messages and therefore, the media must be careful in their reporting.
He said that violence had high news value and when terrorists carry out violent attacks, the media could not afford to not report such incidents: “One major issue is the media is attracted to violence.”
“That is how the relationship between the media and terrorists is established,” he said.
Deciphering the terrorist mind-set
Dodangoda then said that in order for the media to not unintentionally help terrorists reach their objectives, the former must identify the socio-psychological objectives terrorists want from an attack.
Accordingly, Dodangoda pointed out that one such objective was to demonstrate the vulnerability and incompetence of a government by successfully carrying out attacks.
“This will challenge the legitimacy of a government,” he noted.
He said another objective was to attract broader sympathy for the terrorist and their ideologies by carefully selecting targets.
Referring to the 1979 assassination of Lord Mountbatten by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), Dodangonda highlighted a conversation between IRA propaganda head Daniel Morrison and a New Zealand journalist where Morrison reveals the significance of the assassination.
“The journalist asked why they had killed Mountbatten as it had no military value. Morrison had then pointed out that the only reason the journalist was talking to Morrison was because of the assassination of Mountbatten. It was a symbolic kill to boost IRA propaganda and get media attention,”
Dodangoda then pointed out that the Easter Sunday attacks too had significance apart from causing death and destruction.
“The attack on the hotels and foreigners symbolised the terrorist group’s hatred towards western interests and lifestyle,” he said, adding that the targeting of churches was to further the anti-Christian agendas.
Terrorists also seek to cause polarisation among communities through their attacks, Dodangoda said.
“Soon after the attacks, the Sinhala community in Sri Lanka began looking at all Muslims as terrorist while Muslims began behaving in a defensive manner,” he said.
Such polarisation is important as it goes along way in helping terrorist and extremist outfits such as the ISIS or the National ThowheedJamath(NTJ) to recruit more personnel to their cadre.
“Terror attacks will push some segments of society and communities to sympathise with terrorists and their cause,”
The way forward
Upon coming to terms with these basic principles of the deeper agendas of a terrorist attack, the media could not only report responsibly but also aid counter terrorism activities.
One of the main effects on society immediately after a terror attack is the widespread panic and anxiety.
The media could and should play a significant role in containing and controlling this mass panic.
Dodangoda said that the government with the help of the media must take immediate steps to inform the public of the situation on the ground.
“There was an information vacuum directly after the Easter Sunday attack, resulting in mass panic and anxiety. The people need to be informed of the situation when such a catastrophe happens. So the government must utilise the media and get out as much information as possible to the people and urge for calm,”
In addition, the media working alongside the government can also build public confidence in the security forces.
“The media can show that the security forces have found possible vulnerable targets and have deployed additional security. Such methods too will help control mass panic in the aftermath of an attack,” Dodangoda said.
With regard to what steps can be taken to ensure responsible and transparent reporting on sensitive issues, Dodangoda said that there were a few techniques that could be followed.
“One would be for the government to impose censorship on the press,” he said.
However, this option would come at the cost of democracy and the freedom of the press.
Therefore, the most ideal choice would be for the media industry to self-regulate.
“For this to be successful, media institutes, especially owners of such institutes, must be prepared to allow free and fair reporting void of any bias or political agendas,” Dodangoda said.
Furthermore, the media personnel too would be needed to be given at least the bare minimum in training on how to report on sensitive matters.
“If the media industry bosses are willing to take these steps, it will not only make for a better democracy but for a better society and country as well,” he said.