Abstract
Research on terrorism and its relationship to the media is not sufficient to warrant firm conclusions regarding how terrorism affects distant observers. This essay explores the effects of terrorism by approaching it as a persuasive form of human communication rather than a dysfunctional sociological act. It (1) describes the rhetorical functions of terrorism, (2) evaluates the persuasive appeal of a mediated narrative, and (3) applies narrative theory to analyze the TWA Flight 847 hijacking incident of 1985 and the role of terrorist spokesman Nabih Berri. The analysis indicates that Berri successfully used the news media to persuade Americans that the just and reasonable solution to the hostage crisis was to trade the release of Shiite prisoners in Israel for the release of American hostages in Beirut. The study suggests that narrative theory provides a valuable means to analyze media coverage of terrorism and its affects on distant audiences.
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