ISIS: An International Powerhouse of Terror, and how We've been Crying Wolf- A Media Critique

The recent Beheading of photojournalist James Foley, and murder of British aid worker David Haines, have shocked the American body. A terrible surprise, which has warranted greater acknowledgement of the terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL.) It seems strange that western eyes have only now set on what Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel calls an "imminent threat to everything we have."

According to many news sources and media outlets, ISIS is insanely powerful. Meet The Press, CBS's Face the Nation, and ABC's This Week, have all had interviews with government officials of both parties assuring this, like: Sen Dianne Feinstein, and Rep Marco Rubio. Martha Raddats, global affairs correspondent of of ABC This Week said, that between leaving Bashar Al-Assed in power or the threat of ISIS, the white house was "clearly siding with the threat to the homeland." ABC World News reporter Terry Morgan said "A U.S. intelligence assessment says ISIS poses a threat to the American Homeland. So what happens in Iraq... matters back home." With so many sources crying out on impending doom, ISIS must already be planning an attack right now.

It seems that, in actuality, there isn't a real threat of ISIL attacking us anytime soon. In a Wednesday morning speech, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh C. Johnson said, "we know of no credible information that ISIL is planning to attack the homeland at present." American counter-terrorism officials looked over the United States major threats, and found that ISIS is not a top concern. Al Qaeda and affiliates remaining the highest priority. In Pentagon accounts of ISIS targets hit by air raids, 42% were "armed vehicles," civilian vehicles mounted with machine guns instead of tanks or personal carriers. Even President Obama earlier this year likened ISIS to a varsity basketball team, compared to Al Qaeda.

That isn't to say there is no threat posed by ISIS. By the CIA's assessment, ISIS has grown from 10,000 to 31,500 fighters over the summer. American intelligence agencies say that it's ability to gain and hold control over territory might become a major menace in the middle east. ISIS, though, is not nearly strong enough to attack America. Andrew Liepman, a former deputy director at National Counter-terrorism and Senior Policy Analyst at RAND Corporation said, "(ISIS) is different (from) many other situations we've been involved in because the ISIS narrative is so vicious and so brutal that it has virtually no external allies."

With all of this information that suggests against the news medias assertions, we would have seen more of it. These journalist's failed to present this information, and to verify their own. They have violated the second yardstick of The Seven Yardstick's of Journalistic Quality, context, and the third principle of The Nine Principles of Journalism, verification. These journalist's did not test their information against that of many independent experts, nor did they test on their own against the vague statements of politicians. This has resulted in sensationalism, blowing the story way out of proportion and breaking the eighth principle of journalism, inclusiveness.

The media could have easily avoided this, if they had taken the time to check their facts. The story still could have been interesting and important, if they hadn't went in the wrong direction. ISIS poses a bigger threat to the world at large in breaking the middle apart, and recruiting more people. If these journalists continue to have knee-jerk reactions such as this, they will be a disservice to the people. Misinforming people to the actual danger undermines the actual danger of ISIS, and journalism itself.

Sources:

• Mazzetti, Mark, and Cooper, Helene. The New York Times, New York Times Corporation, Aug. 22, 2014. U.S. Officials and Experts at Odds on Threat Posed by ISIS.                                <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/23/us/politics/us-isnt-sure-just-how-much-to-fear-isis.html?_r=0>
• Thompson, Mark, Time Magazine, Time Warner Corporation, Sept. 14, 2014. Putting ISIS Threat in Perspective.                                                                                                                       <http://time.com/3373928/isis-threat-hagel-kerry-syria-iraq/>
• Mazzetti, Mark, Schmitt, Eric, and Landler, Mark. The New York Times, New York Times Corporation, Sept. 10, 2014. Struggling to Gauge ISIS Threat, Even as U.S. Prepares to Act.      <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/11/world/middleeast/struggling-to-gauge-isis-threat-even-as-us-prepares-to-act.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0>
• Fair, Fair.com, Sept. 12, 2014. Four Myths About Obama's War on ISIS.                                     <http://fair.org/take-action/media-advisories/four-myths-about-obamas-war-on-isis/>