Media and Communications Considerations in Contemporary Hostage-Taking: An Exploratory Analysis

New America Future Security Program Fellow Sarah (Levinson) Moriarty published an analysis of media and communications considerations when it comes to hostage-taking with the Soufan Center.

A notable gap within the U.S. policy literature is the specific role of the media within hostage recovery. There is a brief reference to official actors within the hostage recovery enterprise engaging with the media and other public dimensions of hostage events, as well as a general call for these actors to enhance public communications and awareness. A government resource guide for families also includes a small section on media considerations.24 The limited reference to the media dimensions of hostage recovery within the U.S. policy literature is not a criticism of this piece; indeed, given the limited empirical evidence on the impact of media coverage on hostage recovery, it is understandable that very little has been included to date. However, as the present-day hostage recovery enterprise reflects on its ten-year anniversary, a clear gap that both families and practitioners need to consider as an important part of the hostage recovery ecosystem is the role of the media in contemporary hostage affairs.

Read the full report here.