The Jerusalem Post interviewed media experts about how coverage of Gilad Shalit’s kidnapping influences the outcome of the crisis:
From the perspective of the media itself, Wolfsfeld said, the story is obviously appealing in terms of the continuing drama and personal anguish involved.
“Sadly, this also plays into the hands of the terrorists,” he said….
In addition, Peri noted, the media coverage of the kidnaping tended toward demanding a military reaction and underscoring the points of contention between the government and the military, rather than posing the more neutral question of what is the best way to react.
“The newspaper headlines have grown larger and larger over the past week, but this is a sign of exaggeration that is based on the needs of the media itself,” Peri said. “At the end of the day, it has the adverse effect of creating unnecessary tension with little positive impact.”
Are blogs (Backspin included) unwittingly playing into the hands of Shalit’s captors too?
