CONTEMPORARY TERRORISM IS DISTINGUISHED FROM OTHER FORMS OF VIOLENCE BY ITS EFFECTS ON THE MEDIA. MEDIA EFFECTS ARE NOT ONLY SHORT-RANGE, OCCURRING IMMEDIATELY AFTER A TERRORIST ACT, ABOUT ALSO FAR-REACHING IN THAT MEDIA REACTION TO TERRORISM COMES LONG AFTER EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED. MEDIA COVERAGE IS A TERRORIST GOAL BECAUSE IT COMMUNICATES A MESSAGE OF FEAR AND DEMAND AND REPRESENTS A BRIDGE BETWEEN TERRORISTS AND THE TARGET AUDIENCE OF TERRORISTS. DUE TO THE OBLIGATION TO REPORT AND ANALYZE EVENTS, THE MEDIA HAVE PROVIDED PUBLICITY FOR TERRORIST GRIEVANCES, GIVEN LEGITIMACY TO VIOLENCE, AIDED IN THE RECRUITMENT OF NEW MEMBERS INTO TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, AND PROMPTED OVERREACTION BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. THE MEDIA DEMONSTRATE THE CREDIBILITY OF TERRORIST THREATS, CREATE AN ILLUSION THAT A PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENT IS CONDUCIVE TO TERROR, AND PROVOKE RIGHTIST TERROR. TERRORISTS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY EXPLOITED CERTAIN VULNERABILITIES OF THE MEDIA, INCLUDING IDEALISM, COMPETITIVENESS, MISPERCEPTIONS, AFFILIATIONS, THE MEDIA AS 'THREATENED VICTIM,' AND PUBLIC DEMAND TO KNOW. LEGISLATION HAS BEEN INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS TO CONTROL TERRORISM. GUIDELINES FOR THE MEDIA TO FOLLOW WHEN DEALING WITH TERRORISM AS IT TAKES PLACE AND BEFORE AND AFTER TERRORIST EVENTS ARE OFFERED. THE ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN TERRORISM AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES AND THE MEDIA IS EMPHASIZED. (DEP)