RIYADH: The intense competition among private media houses to publish stories on terrorism, and sensationalistic reporting, is inadvertently helping extremists groups, particularly in getting their messages to susceptible young people.

This was the opinion expressed by Maj. Gen. Saleh Al-Malik, assistant professor at the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, who delivered a paper on media reporting recently at a conference in Jordan.

He said the competition is encouraging these groups to contact journalists and provide them with more information on their ideas and operations, in what appears to be a form of cooperation, a local publication reported recently.

He said this form of cooperation, with seemingly mutual benefit, has seen many experts and researchers describe journalists as the “best friends” of terrorists. Some have even argued that terrorists will not achieve their goals if they get no media coverage.

Al-Malik said some journalists are intent on chasing after terrorists groups so that their companies can get high ratings. This results in them unintentionally promoting the political and other messages of these groups, and justifying acts that are meant to instill fear in people.

He argued that some media houses not only promote the views of these groups, but also play an important role in influencing young people. Academics from Zurich University, in research entitled “Blood and Ink,” have pointed out that there is a mutually beneficial relationship between journalists and terrorists.

Terrorists get free advertising and the media make more profits because reports related to terrorism increase circulation of newspapers and attract more people to broadcasters.

Al-Malik said several studies conducted by sociologists and other researchers have found that terrorists, through the media, are able to reach many more people who are sympathetic to their cause.

He said Washington Post journalist David Brooder has even called for measures to be taken to prevent terrorists from contacting journalists. The late Margaret Thatcher, former British prime minister, once described media coverage of terrorists as providing them with oxygen.

Al-Malik also argued that the growth of social media networks has become fertile ground for terrorists to peddle their views. He said that media houses must place the interests of the state above all other considerations when reporting on terrorism, and must steer clear of sensationalist reporting.