TONIGHT'S SUBJECT: Terrorism: America on Alert
Date: 
Mon, 25 Jun 2001 10:46:45 -0700
From: 
Nightline <listeditor@abcnews.go.com>
To: 
"Nightline Mailing List" <nightlinemail-l@alist0.starwave.com>




U.S. Forces remain on the highest state of alert after intelligence
reports indicated the possibility of an imminent strike by Osama bin
Laden’s organization. These threats have to be taken seriously, but at the
same time, does it look like the terrorists are calling the shots and
putting the U.S. on the defensive? What is the right response?

Most news organizations have a policy of not reporting bomb threats. The
reasoning is obvious. If it’s reported every time, that will only
encourage people who want to watch the effects of their actions, whether
the threats are real or just pranks. But that policy often breaks down in
the real world. If a bomb threat causes great disruptions, or the
cancellation of a major event, how can you not report it? And then the
vicious cycle begins, is that report just encouraging others? And in the
wake of a report on a threat of some kind, make no mistake about it, you
get more.

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