Russian city of Volgograd was shocked by two terrorist attacks followed one by one on Sunday and Monday. As Russian information agencies report suicide bombers attacked a city railway station and an overcrowded trolley bus. According to the law enforcement services more than 30 people were killed.
News pieces about the terrorist attacks congested TV programs of Russian state channels that were broadcasting explosions and ruins, smashed trolley bus and corpses as well as interviews with eyewitnesses. A man with the bandaged head and the holes for eyes and a mouth was the most frightening.
In addition, the mass media kept discussing various experts' opinions, accusing the security services that supposedly failed to secure the society, forgetting to mention how many other terrorist attacks were averted.
The experience of Israel and other countries shows that people can easily succumb to panic during such tragic events, especially when the attacks come one after another. In such circumstances, mass media and especially state media should consolidate the society that is facing a common threat, and demonstrate how ordinary citizens help the security forces to prevent another disaster. 9/11 attacks in the U.S. provide a good example of such approach.
Instead, the Russian media were rather intimidating the citizens and contributing to the spread of panic. They surely didn't have such a purpose initially. Considering the lack of information due to winter holidays lasting up to January 9, Russian TV channels were eager to put on the air numerous footages of the attacks.
Moreover, many Russian mass media shared a common error covering the attacks. They were busy trying to get exclusive information and broadcasting the events in real time. Due to their inability to quickly process vast amounts of information the Russian media failed to notice what consequences their coverage lead to.
So, the Russian TV channels provide everything that any terrorist organization is eager to achieve: wide public resonance, panic in society and destabilization of the situation.
In addition, the mass media kept discussing various experts' opinions, accusing the security services that supposedly failed to secure the society, forgetting to mention how many other terrorist attacks were averted.
The experience of Israel and other countries shows that people can easily succumb to panic during such tragic events, especially when the attacks come one after another. In such circumstances, mass media and especially state media should consolidate the society that is facing a common threat, and demonstrate how ordinary citizens help the security forces to prevent another disaster. 9/11 attacks in the U.S. provide a good example of such approach.
Instead, the Russian media were rather intimidating the citizens and contributing to the spread of panic. They surely didn't have such a purpose initially. Considering the lack of information due to winter holidays lasting up to January 9, Russian TV channels were eager to put on the air numerous footages of the attacks.
Moreover, many Russian mass media shared a common error covering the attacks. They were busy trying to get exclusive information and broadcasting the events in real time. Due to their inability to quickly process vast amounts of information the Russian media failed to notice what consequences their coverage lead to.
So, the Russian TV channels provide everything that any terrorist organization is eager to achieve: wide public resonance, panic in society and destabilization of the situation.
