A Journalism Report on the Impact of Media and Internet on Terrorism

This report investigates the impact of media and the internet on terrorism, focusing on the role of journalism and press in counter-terrorism. It addresses the conceptual understanding of terrorism and its relationship with media and the internet, exploring cross impacts while upholding freedom of speech and expression. The research questions address conspiracy theories related to terrorism and counter-terrorism, examining the need for countering them. Hypotheses explore the relationship between media, internet, and terrorism. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, utilizing questionnaires and literature reviews to gather primary and secondary data. Ethical considerations such as confidentiality and copyright are addressed to ensure the integrity of the research. This report aims to provide insights into the complex dynamics between media, the internet, and terrorism.

Running head: JOURNALISM
Impact of Media and Internet on Terrorism

JOURNALISM 2
Table of Contents
A clear statement of research and aim of the research.................................................................................3
Research questions......................................................................................................................................3
Hypotheses..................................................................................................................................................4
Research background...................................................................................................................................4
Literature Review........................................................................................................................................5
Research methodology................................................................................................................................7
Research design.......................................................................................................................................7
Research strategy.....................................................................................................................................7
Data collection method............................................................................................................................7
Sampling.................................................................................................................................................8
Ethical consideration...............................................................................................................................8
Brief summary.............................................................................................................................................8
References.................................................................................................................................................10

JOURNALISM 3
A clear statement of research and aim of the research
This research focuses on the impact of media and internet on terrorism and helps to understand
different conspiracy theories associated with counter-terrorism.
The conspiracy theory of terrorism is only one of the different theories that focus on explaining
terrorism. The research topic is worth investigating as it would help to understand the
phenomenon of terrorism. This research needs to be conducted to consolidate the several
interpretations of conspiracy theories related to terrorism in order to deeply comprehend the
issues and to anticipate the upcoming reactions. A research on the conspiracy theory of terrorism
is essential as it would aid to illuminate the efforts to define terrorism. It would offer a basis to
evaluate the past, present, and future endeavors to combat terrorism. It would also suggest the
possible impacts on the policy-making efforts associated with terrorism (Conway 77).
The key purpose of this investigation is to demonstrate a descriptive assessment of conspiracy
theories related to terrorism. The hypothetical effects of conflicting views would be assessed to
offer projected outcome of political decision-making relied on conspiracy theories related to
terrorism. The prospect effect would be analyzed by this study. A natural derivative of the
research will offer concise data related to criminologist in attempt to comprehend how
conspiracy theory associated with practice and politics (Denemark and Chubb 59). The main aim
of this research is to understand the impact of media and the internet on terrorism. Following are
the objectives of research:
RO1: To explore the conceptual understanding about Terrorism and the media, and terrorism and
the internet
RO2: To address the role of journalism and press in counter-terrorism
Research questions

JOURNALISM 4
RQ1: Terrorism and the media, terrorism and the internet: cross impacts and what can be done
about them while upholding freedom of speech and expression
RQ2: Conspiracy theories related to terrorism/counter-terrorism: is there a need for countering
them?
Hypotheses
Hypothesis 1
H0: There is a significant relationship between the media and terrorism
H1: There is no significant relationship between the media and terrorism
Hypothesis 2
H0: There is a significant relationship between internet and terrorism
H2: There is no significant relationship between internet and terrorism
Research background
In different nations, the government shows their high involvement in the media with different
media companies operating by the Communist-Party-led government. In the context of
democracy, there are some religious organizations and anything probing the legitimacy of the
communist party is banned from using in public and blocked on the internet. These religious
organizations are the Tiananmen Square Massacre, the Arab Spring, and Hong Kong protests
(Conway 77).
Moreover, web portals involving Microsoft's MSN that comes under the criticism for supporting
in these practices such as prohibition the word such as democracy from its chat-rooms. There are
some social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat are banned as a whole and
books, and international films are key concerns to active control. The search engine i.e. Google
was unbanned on the 25th centenary of the annihilation. But, usage is still restricted. Beijing has

JOURNALISM 5
lifted bans on international websites inside the free trade zone (Gilboa et al. 654). Its censorship
tactics differ through the sensible way of practicing monitoring system. There is some jailed
activist such as bloggers, activists, and journalist that aids to monitor the terrorism. Although,
constitution deals with freedom of speech of citizens, however, the language has been unclear.
Thus, it provides more freedom for the unilateral judgments and government’s arbitrary. It was
the most open protest and largest for free speech and press in the year of January 2013
(Denemark and Chubb 59).
Literature Review
According to Tierney 1, the Colloquium will involve different media actors and other applicable
stakeholders like audio-visual regulatory bodies, civil society’s representatives, government
representatives, and media self-regulatory bodies. Furthermore, challenges and dilemmas are
faced by media experts entailing the terrorist acts, and threats in the current changing media
atmosphere. In addition, it also focuses on the use of digital platform and media, and the role of
internet actors. Regulation responses in such different context protect the right to freedom of
expression and media freedoms and other fundamental rights.
In support of this, Gilboa et al. 654 evaluated that the right to freedom of expression with
freedom of the media is a pillar of democratic security. The council endorses an enabling
atmosphere for freedom of expression that is underpinned by legal guarantees. It also emphasizes
on the freedom and diversity of media and the safety of journalists and other media actors. The
division also makes sure the work of navigation committee on media and information society.
In the view of Tierney 1, the media and internet division issues publications on appropriate
topics and also manages the activities like seminars, events, and conferences to enhance the
discussions on how to best maintain the freedom of expression and information in the nation. It

JOURNALISM 6
also makes sure the co-operation activities by providing the expertise and assistance on new-
media actors, standard media and instruction to government and regulatory bodies in targeted
nations. The key purpose is to enhance an enabling environment for freedom of expression by
taking into account the challenges of altering the media landscape.
In opposed to this, Beckmann, Dewenter and Thomas 9 stated that work is divided on the basis
of different subjects under freedom of expression like decriminalization of defamation,
protection of journalism, gender equality in the media, the safety of journalists, and countering
hate speech. Conspiracy theory is illustrated as an attempt to clarify the presence of terrorism as
per the intensive direct and indirect efforts of two or more actors in order to attain the political
goals that mat themselves differ. In this theory, one actor is engaged in different kinds of support
activities and the other actor conducts terrorist activities. The primary supporting actors could be
governmental and conductor of practices. These conductors may be other groups, individuals and
government.
In support of this, Meleagrou-Hitchens, Audrey Alexander and Kaderbhai 1233 evaluated that
counter-terrorism involves the military tactics, business, and intelligence agencies and strategy
that government, military, law enforcement, techniques. It is used to prevent terrorism. A
counter-terrorism strategy focuses on attempting counter-terrorism financing.

JOURNALISM 7
Research methodology
Research design
In this research, a mixed research design will be used to complete the main aim of this research.
This research design would be selected as it contains the characteristics of both qualitative and
quantitative research design. Qualitative research design will be beneficial for collecting the
conceptual understanding of the research issues. Furthermore, quantitative research design would
be selected for gathering the numeric information regarding research concern (Meleagrou-
Hitchens, Audrey Alexander and Kaderbhai 1233).
Research strategy
In this research, both questionnaire and literature review strategies would be used to attain the
research objective. Survey through questionnaire strategy would aid to gather the primary
information about research issue. In addition, the literature review strategy would be used to
collect secondary information regarding research issue. It would aid to obtain the more reliable
and valid outcome (Tierney 1).
Data collection method
In this research, both primary and secondary data collection method would be used to gather
information regarding upholding freedom of speech and expression and about counter-terrorism.
In this way, primary data would be gathered through different sources like survey through
questionnaire and interview. These sources would aid to acquire the first-hand information that is
not published earlier (Archetti 49). Moreover, secondary data would be collected through
different sources such as journal articles, online websites, government publications, and
textbooks. This data collection method would be beneficial for gathering the authentic and

JOURNALISM 8
reliable information about the upholding freedom of speech and expression and about counter-
terrorism (Tierney 1).
Sampling
Under this research, probability sampling technique would be used to choose the sample from a
large amount of population. In this technique, simple random sampling will be selected as it
would provide equal chances to select the respondents and also declines the biases from the
investigation. For conducting the research, 50 employees will be selected from journalism
industries who have participated in reporting the counter-terrorism. It would be beneficial for
gathering the actual information regarding upholding freedom of speech and expression and
about counter-terrorism (Beckmann, Dewenter and Thomas 9).
Ethical consideration
In this research, the researcher may face different ethical issues such as confidentiality issues
and copyright issues. Hence, the researcher will not share the confidential information through
anyone during and after the research to conduct the ethics investigation. Along with this, the
researcher will provide a proper in-text citation to give credit to the author (Hopwood and
Schutte 316). Moreover, the researcher will use own words in report writing to conduct ethical
research. Moreover, the researcher will use privacy software to protect the data of customers.
These all strategies would lead the researcher to conduct the investigation in an ethical way
(Conway 77).
Brief summary
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that upholding freedom of speech and expression
and about counter-terrorism is the key issue of this research. It can be evaluated that mixed
research design would be selected because it contains the characteristics of both qualitative and

JOURNALISM 9
quantitative research design. Furthermore, it can be summarised that both primary and secondary
data collection method will be used to collect information about the research concern. It can be
also concluded that the statistical data analysis method would be used to assess the collected
information.

JOURNALISM 10
References
Archetti, Cristina. "Terrorism, communication and new media: Explaining radicalization in the
digital age." Perspectives on Terrorism 9.1 (2015): 49-59.
Beckmann, Klaus B., Ralf Dewenter, and Tobias Thomas. "Can news draw blood? The impact of
media coverage on the number and severity of terror attacks." Peace Economics, Peace Science
and Public Policy 23.1 (2017): 9.
Conway, Maura. "Determining the role of the internet in violent extremism and terrorism: Six
suggestions for progressing research." Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 40.1 (2017): 77-98.
Denemark, David, and Andrew Chubb. "Citizen attitudes towards maritime territorial disputes:
traditional media and Internet usage as distinctive conduits of political views." Information,
Communication & Society 19.1 (2016): 59-79.
Gilboa, Eytan, Maria Gabrielsen Jumbert, Jason Miklian, and Piers Robinson. "Moving media
and conflict studies beyond the CNN effect." Review of International Studies 42.4 (2016): 654-
672.
Hopwood, Tanya L., and Nicola S. Schutte. "Psychological outcomes in reaction to media
exposure to disasters and large-scale violence: A meta-analysis." Psychology of Violence 7.2
(2017): 316.
Meleagrou-Hitchens, Alexander, Audrey Alexander, and Nick Kaderbhai. "The impact of digital
communications technology on radicalization and recruitment." International Affairs 93.5
(2017): 1233-1249.
Tierney, Michael. "# terrorist financing: An Examination of Terrorism Financing via the
Internet." International Journal of Cyber Warfare and Terrorism (IJCWT) 8.1 (2018): 1-11.