The Global Terrorist

Globalisation is a widely discussed issue in the relation to new forms of journalism and an issue I have already dealt with. This idea that borders between countries have been blurred and we are all part of a global viallge has come about after the invention of the Internet. The evidence for this concept can be seen in the audiences of different sites. “ In Europe, 80% of corporate sites are multilingual, with English the preferred second language” (Business/Technology Editors, 1998). This points out the relevence of globalisation, however I would like to look at one of the social implications of a global media environment.
The global terrorist has become a stereotype perferating all mediums of news and entertainment production. The arab person with the turbin and beard is the poster boy for any terror attack around the globe. The context or facts have become irrelevent in the sense that individuals will automatically envision this image when the word terror or terrorist is mentioned. Whilst this is a blatant form of orientalism seen in numerous pre- 9/11 films such as James Bond, never has theis image proliferated through the news.
Previously all countries would have had a different view/image of a terrorist, however with the Internet and the maginifed coverage of 9/11 this one image has become the global terrorist. As Lutz writes, “Great care must be taken to avoid stereotyping terrorists as persons from the Middle East who are determined to destroy the West” (2004). The global media create global issues and ignite global stereotypes and prejudices. The below video sums up the issue better than I can and gives a disturbing look at the impacts a small phrase, ‘Terrorist’ can make.





Sources
Lutz. B 2004, 'Global Terrorism,'Routledge: Taylor and Francis Group, Accessed on http://books.google.com.au/books?id=0YUCtOTEjncC&source=gbs_navlinks_s


Business/Technology Editors, 1998, 'Instant Globalization and Just-In-Time Localization -- Strategies for Success On the Web,' Business Wire. New York: Aug 11, 1998. pg. 1. Accessed 28 August 2009 from ProQuest 5000.