伊斯兰国家的媒体暴力可能对组织造成损害

AS IT IS 2015-08-04 Islamic State’s Media Violence May Hurt the Group 伊斯兰国家的媒体暴力可能对组织造成损害

The group calling itself the Islamic State uses videos to publicize its activities. The terrorist group’s media team has made its most horrible acts into big news stories. Some observers blame television stations and newspapers for publicizing the violence. They say traditional media have strengthened the public image of the group. Other observers say the Islamic State’s media war has reached a turning point. They say the bloody¹ videos are starting to ruin the group’s image.

Most major media companies have policies in place that limit the violence they will show in pictures or videos. They usually refuse to show the act of murder in Islamic State videos. But they do show other parts of the videos.

Daniel Wagner is the head of Country Risk Solutions, a private service that offers advice on cross-border risks. He believes media companies should reconsider their policies, especially when reporting on the Islamic State, also known as ISIS.

“If I had my way, they would be more judicious² in what they choose to broadcast related to ISIS -- for example, they wouldn’t be referencing beheading videos and they wouldn’t be talking about the latest outrageous³ act that the Islamic State has accomplished⁴.”

Mr. Wagner blames the news business and people’s reaction to sensational⁵ reporting for the problem. He says the media helps ISIS both strengthen its public image and win new followers⁶.

Islamic State videos showing murders have been published on many social media sites and in the news media. But some observers say ISIS has produced so many videos showing violence that they are starting to harm the group.

Max Abrahms is one of those observers. He teaches political science at Northeastern University in the United States. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a non-profit group.

“Every targeted country that the Islamic State brags⁷ about becomes more resolved to take on (the) Islamic State. While it’s true that bragging⁸ about the violence over social media can be beneficial in terms of having a recruitment effect, there’s also a very substantial attrition effect.”

Professor Abrahms says there is evidence that the Islamic State recognizes its media efforts are harming the group. He says the terrorist group’s leaders may now be urging members to stop talking so much about their violent acts. He says this ability to change its policies and practices is part of the reason the group has grown so large and so quickly.

Words in This Story

judicious – adj. showing or having good judgment⁹

beheading – n. an execution in which the person’s head is cut off

outrageous – adj. shocking or surprising in a very bad way

accomplished – adj. very skillful or successful

brag(s) – v. to speak very highly of yourself or your successes

recruitment – n. the process of adding new members to a group

attrition – n. the process or act of weakening; a reduction in the number of members or supporters

1 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

2 judicious   

adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的

参考例句：

• We should listen to the judicious opinion of that old man.我们应该听取那位老人明智的意见。
• A judicious parent encourages his children to make their own decisions.贤明的父亲鼓励儿女自作抉择。

3 outrageous   

adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的

参考例句：

• Her outrageous behaviour at the party offended everyone.她在聚会上的无礼行为触怒了每一个人。
• Charges for local telephone calls are particularly outrageous.本地电话资费贵得出奇。

4 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

5 sensational   

adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的

参考例句：

• Papers of this kind are full of sensational news reports.这类报纸满是耸人听闻的新闻报道。
• Their performance was sensational.他们的演出妙极了。

6 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

7 brags   

v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He constantly brags about how well he plays football. 他老是吹嘘自己足球踢得多么好。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• \"I don't care to listen to your brags.\" \"我没有兴趣听你吹了！ 来自飘（部分）

8 bragging   

v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的现在分词 )；大话

参考例句：

• He's always bragging about his prowess as a cricketer. 他总是吹嘘自己板球水平高超。 来自辞典例句
• Now you're bragging, darling. You know you don't need to brag. 这就是夸口，亲爱的。你明知道你不必吹。 来自辞典例句

9 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。