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Terrorism has become a constant threat in communities everywhere. In their heinous operations, terrorists seek the most attention and publicity as these are to have a multiplier effect on the impact of the cowardly acts. They commit violent crimes in order to cause fear and terror as they disrupt normal life, in the hope of gaining attention for a cause.

Charged with the responsibility of providing information about events in society, media access to information is a critical need, particularly when the safety, security and survival of the members of the public are threatened.

Considering the fact that the aim of terrorists is to seek attention and free publicity in order to create fear and dread, the medias role in reporting acts of terrorism becomes a delicate act because while the media are obligated to provide news and information, they could be manipulated or otherwise roped into the terrorists' nefarious schemes.

Perhaps the most important question that emerges from media coverage of terrorists' acts is whether detailed gaffer to gaffer coverage of terrorists acts encourages further violence or promotes the terrorists agenda. There is also the question of whether the media can fall victims of terrorists machinations and become accomplices as terrorists seek cheap publicity. Do the media in their reporting magnify and emphasize the threats and fear instead, thus further emboldening terrorists?

Terrorists, governments, and the media see the functions, roles and responsibilities of the media when covering terrorists events from differing and often competing perspectives. Such perspectives drive behaviour during terrorists incidents often resulting in both tactical and strategic gains to the terrorists operation and the overall terrorists cause.

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Decency and human respect prescribe that the authorities must first notify the families about their loss before mentioning the victims' names on the airwaves, never mind showing their pictures. A qualified senior editor, with experience in covering such bloody scenes, should monitor the photos prior to their broadcast

(Almagor, 2005)

APPRAISAL REPORT

APPRAISAL REPORT

A jo

urna

list

repo

rtin

g liv

e fr

om t

he W

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ate

Shop

ping

Mal

l.

Photo Colour

Valid ColouredBlack & WhiteTotal

38353436

87.812.2100.0

87.812.2100.0

Frequency Percent Valid Percent

APPRAISAL REPORT

Frequency Percent Valid Percent

Valid Yes

NO

N/A

Total

1

75

360

436

.2

17.2

82.6

100.0

.2

17.2

82.6

100.0

Warning over photos used

Main Subject

Rescue personnelInjured personsCrowd/publicGovernment Officialsmedia personnelOther scenes

Total

791431225201561436

18.132.82.85.74.635.8.2100.0

18.132.82.85.74.635.8.2100.0

Frequency Percent Valid Percent

APPRAISAL REPORT

Frequency Percent Valid Percent

Yes

NO

Total

229

207

436

52.5

47.5

100.0

52.5

47.5

100.0

Does the Photo have a caption

Accurate96%

Inaccurate 4%

Frequency Percent Valid PercentYesNOTotal

4432436

999.1100.0

999.1100.0

APPRAISAL REPORT

91%

9%

Treatment of subjects in the photoDignified treatmentUndignified treatment

Accurate and ComprehensiveTreatment

YesNo

5%

95%

Frequency Percent Valid Percent

YesNOTotal

2434436

.599.5100.0

.599.5100.0

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Keny

a D

efen

ce F

orce

s so

ldie

rs p

atro

l the

Wes

tgat

e Sh

oppi

ng M

all v

icin

ity.

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Aiding terrorists in media coverage

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Gen

eral

Ser

vice

Uni

t pe

rson

nel t

ake

posi

tion

s at

the

Wes

tgat

e Sh

oppi

ng M

all.

APPRAISAL REPORT

Adh

eren

ce t

o et

hics

: The

Med

ia C

ounc

il of

Ken

ya m

embe

rs a

ddre

ssin

g th

e pr

ess

at t

he W

estg

ate

Shop

ping

Mal

l.

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