William Safire has an op-ed in the NY Times today entitled "The Kidnap Weapon". (Registration required, if not signed up use "Randommentality" and "password").



But responsible journalists should consider the wisdom of allowing media-savvy terrorists to play them like a violin.



"Sensationalism sells; on TV, "if it bleeds, it leads." Audiences are surely drawn to tearful interviews with worried spouses and children. Bloggers get "hits" from posting the most gruesome pictures. Cable ratings rise by milking the pathos in the drama created by the Zarqawi network: first comes the kidnapping report; then televised pleas from the kneeling, doomed innocents; then coverage of marches and vigils to plead for the payment of ransom; finally, in one case out of four, the delivery of dismembered bodies and gleeful claim of blame. . . .



We know that the primary purpose of the kidnap weapon is to drive the coalition forces out of Iraq and to prevent a free election there. We know, too, that the kidnap weapon is aimed at the U.S. election. . . .



Nonpartisan media's response should be to report the events conscious of manipulation and not to overlook the reaction of Iraqi and worldwide Muslim disgust."



Possibly a very timely piece, considering Yahoo has just reported that a CNN producer has been seized by armed men in Gaza.