The media's contribution to our aviation downturn
 

Isn't it time we aired the fact that the media are responsible for keeping terrorist activity alive? Without all the publicity and sensationalism ...would the perpetrators be able to wreak their havoc?

Strangely enough, this is what Margaret Thatcher thought as well. She instituted a ban on the media directly reporting what IRA leaders said. What happened then was that you'd have video of one of their leaders - Gerry Adams, say - talking; and an actor would dub his words. Final score: UK Govt 0: IRA 1 (own goal by UK Govt).

The problem is that until you actually listen to someone with a grievance and deal with it you're just going to make that grievance much worse. This the British have (finally) done in Ireland - and not before time, either.

Another consequence of censorship - and that's what you're advocating, pushback - is that people on your own side start to wonder what you're trying to hide.

Far better to let them speak and let the people decide the rights and wrongs - as happened last week when Jimmy Young got a spokesman for Al-Muhajiroun, a British islamic fundamentalist group, to say that they "will continue to struggle and strive until we see the flag of Islam fly over 10 Downing Street".

I agree with Guvnor,Osama has no innate PR skills and his broadcasts are self defeating,
long may they continue...

And, you certainly cannot blame the media for the mess that many airlines find themselves in worldwide.....pi@@ poor management and other short-sighted...ah well greedy pilots come to mind...employees by their actions create enough unfavorable publicity.