TERRORISM AFFECTED BY MEDIA’S ATTENTION

Abstract

This paper tests the causal link between the media's exposure to terrorism and subsequent attacks. Analyzing 61,132 days of attack in 201 countries provides proof that expanded coverage of the New York Times facilitates more attacks in the same region. Using natural disasters in the United States as an exogenous variance that decreases media coverage, the correlation tends to be causal. An additional article is recommended to generate 1.4 assaults during the next week, which is equal to an estimate of three casualties. This finding is robust to several alternate assessments and it seems unlikely that the attacks will merely be delayed. If terrorists do not gain national coverage, fewer would be targeted.