HOSTAGE-TAKERS CREATE DRAMATIC STORIES FOR THE MEDIA; SOME AUTHORITIES CLAIM TERRORISTS WOULD NOT EXIST IF THE MEDIA DID NOT PUBLICIZE TERRORISM. COVERING SUCH TERRORIST EVENTS CHANGES THE CHARACTER OF NEWSMEN COMPETING FOR THE STORY. THEY MAY INADVERTENTLY GIVE TERRORISTS SECRET POLICE-ACTION INFORMATION. ADVANCED CAMERAS PERMIT THEM TO COVER AN EVENT AS IT UNFOLDS. SURVEYS OF NEWSMEN ON THIS ISSUE REVEAL THEIR DISCOMFORT WITH IRRESPONSIBLE COVERAGE, AND NBC, CBS, AND UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL HAVE EACH DRAWN UP GUIDELINES FOR THEIR OFFICES OR STATIONS. HOWEVER, LOCAL STATIONS COMPLAIN THAT GUIDELINES LEAVE THEM INFLEXIBLE IN INDIVIDUAL CASES. THE MEDIA MUST ALSO GUARD AGAINST BEING MANIPULATED BY TERRORISTS, OR NEGOTIATING WITH TERRORISTS WITHOUT POLICE SUPERVISION AND PERMISSION. WHEN FRUSTRATION WITH THE MEDIA AND A DESIRE TO SAVE HOSTAGES LED THE NEW YORK POLICE TO ATTEMPT TO BLACK OUT COVERAGE, THE MEDIA FOILED THEIR PLANS AND INADVERTENTLY INTERFERED WITH THE NEGOTIATING PROCESS THROUGH RESULTING LACK OF POLICE-MEDIA COMMUNICATION. POLICE-MEDIA COOPERATION THROUGH POLICE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS ACTING AS LIAISONS AND CONTINUED MEDIA-POLICE DISCUSSIONS DURING TERRORIST CRISES MAY ALLOW BOTH TO DO THEIR PUBLIC DUTY WITHOUT ENDANGERING HOSTAGES OR POLICE WORK. (PAP)