ABSTRACT
The difficulty that the media have in identifying terrorist acts as such, and in holding their perpetrators up to public contempt, arises for the most part out of assumptions of “objectivity,” and in some cases out of its opposite — an acknowledged “non-objectivity” that has gone askew. Within this context, it does not matter what their ultimate political purpose is — if such purpose they have. What matters is what they do, and if what they do is beyond the pale — well then, so are they. It is reprehensible when, as has happened, radio or television journalists in their “on-scene” reporting describe in specific detail the preparations and movements of counter-terror forces engaged at that moment in an action against terrorists holding hostages. These self-limitations are imposed by the dictates of responsibility, public policy and public welfare.
