Richard Eisendorf makes a compelling argument that the media’s use of hostage videos coming out of Iraq rewards terrorism:
Is it not a cynical irony that American television stations would not air British interviews with Monica Lewinsky because they violate a tenet of journalism ethics not to pay for interviews, but they willingly air the propaganda videos produced by hooded gunmen reading prepared statements and forcing their victims to beg for their lives?
Journalism and societal ethics draw the line at showing the actual murder and the slayers proudly displaying the victim’s head. That line should be pulled back even further. Disarm the terrorists by not giving them the platform from which to conduct their killing diplomacy.
(Hat tip: Journalism.org)
Meanwhile, Al-Jazeera, which has no shortage of air-time for such videos, was recently approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for broadcast in Arabic. Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch, in response to the CRTC decision, details some of Al-Jazeera’s excesses.
Thanks to the CRTC, shadowy Muslim terror groups will now be able to reach millions of Canadian viewers.
