A media/terrorism model: the Saudi experience

Abstract

The aim of this study is to understand the relationships between mass media and terrorism in general, and bringing the Saudi experience in dealing with terrorist actions that has hit the country since 2003. A media/terrorism model is proposed in the study, in order to shed lights on the complicated relationships among parties involved; government, mass media, terrorist organizations, and the general public. The model suggests four action elements that take place among the four parties when competing and dealing with such events: 1. Terrorists: creating events. 2. Media: reporting events. 3. Governments: influencing events. 4. Public: understanding events. Furthermore, the model proposes six interaction relations among the four parties involved in terrorists events, each one deals with how one party interacts with the other.