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Downplay ISIS atrocities

ISIS and other terrorist groups depend on publicity to spread fear, recruit others to their cause and solicit financial and other donations. When ISIS beheads someone, world media spread the news globally, exactly what the terrorists want.

To me, a better approach would be to remove such events from the lead news stories and report them matter-of-fact without pictures or elaborate comments.

On Feb. 3, for example, I saw on Fox News a visual report on ISIS burning to death a captured Jordanian pilot. Fox devoted over 22 minutes to the story, making ISIS very happy. At some point, such pandering to the desires of terrorists by Fox and other media will amount to aiding and abetting the enemy, if it hasn’t already.

The First Amendment provides for both free speech and a free press. But just as free speech has limits (one can’t yell “fire” in a theater if there is no fire), so does a free press. I urge the media, including The Spokesman-Review, to use its freedom wisely when reporting the activities of terrorists.

William Mahaney

Spokane

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