Terrorism and the Media ― From the Iran Hostage Crisis to the World Trade Center Bombing

Over the last fifteen years, incidents of terrorism have become increasingly common. Until recently, however, Americans believed that such violent acts would not occur on American soil. The 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and the 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building were rude awakenings.
In this important, up-to-date study, Brigitte L. Nacos contends that terrorists are very successful at exploiting the vital links among the news media, public opinion, and decision making - a pattern which the author calls a calculus of violence. She demonstrates that terrorism works because media coverage influences the American public to support government responses that protect the victims of terrorism, most of all hostages, at the expense of the national interest.
In a new Preface for the paperback edition, Nacos includes important recent events, showing how right-wing radio talk shows, Penthouse, and The New York Times all played pivotal roles in articulating the causes of terrorists such as the Michigan Militia and the Unabomber.

Brigitte L. Nacos teaches American government and politics at Columbia University.