ABSTRACT
One school of thought asserts that terrorist organizations operate according to a multi-phase rational strategy, which begins with perpetrating a terrorist attack aimed at achieving widespread media coverage. The media coverage is supposed to intimidate the public, and in this way influence the political perspectives and attitudes of the citizens. Terrorist attacks, then, are aimed at achieving maximum coverage in the written and electronic press. One of the most obvious expressions of the dilemma regarding media coverage of terrorism is the question of broadcasting cassettes produced by the terrorists themselves. The terrible images broadcast from the scene of an attack into every home in the targeted nation, and the entire world, serves the propaganda and fear-provoking goals of the terrorist organization more than any other outlet. The need to impose censorship may have another explanation—to prevent terrorist organizations from obtaining information concerning the methods, means, capabilities, and intentions of the security forces.
