ABSTRACT
Mass media can consciously or unwittingly promote terrorism through its emphasis on projecting fear and an uncertain future to media consumers. This chapter begins by initially outlining some key definitions that are used, such as public relations and terrorism, both of which are widely interpreted and controversial terms. It explores the communication value of acts of terrorism. The links between public relations and terrorism will be analysed by a literature review, and in particular the words and deeds of Al Qaeda and Islamic State will be examined with public relations as a lens. The social and political environment and context in which terrorism and terrorists are physically located is an important part of the equation to consider and should not be neglected. Public communications need to be differentiated in two ways, firstly in terms of the distinction between spectacular and participatory types of public sphere, and secondly in terms of the distinction between values-based and power-based modes of address.
