A New Era of Terrorism: Comparing Media Responses in Tarrant and Yamagami

The two men share distinct similarities. Beyond their relationships with their mothers and siblings and minimal online connections, they engage little with others. Each prepared meticulously for over a year, undertaking their respective tasks in solitude. The fervor with which they pursued their terrorism plans mirrors one another, reflecting a deep-seated obsession. 

First in a Two-Part Series

One is Tetsuya Yamagami, now 43, who shot former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on July 8, two years ago. The other is Brenton Tarrant, now 33. He is a white supremacist who, five years ago, carried out a horrific mass shooting at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand. Both are lone offenders whose acts of terrorism shocked the world.

Yamagami's mother was a devoted follower of the former Unification Church (now the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification). Following the incident, he emerged as a symbolic figure among second-generation religious adherents in Japan (shūkyō nisei in Japanese). 

His life, heavily influenced by his parent's intense faith, became a focal point in the media, even attracting public sympathy. This widespread attention ultimately spurred the enactment of legislation aimed at curbing coerced donations to religious groups.

In New Zealand, on the other hand, Brenton Tarrant's name was almost immediately treated with anonymity, and broadcasts of his image were significantly limited.

Live-Streamed Atrocity

On March 15, 2019, Tarrant targeted the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island.

As worshippers gathered for the midday Friday prayers, numerous pairs of shoes lined the entrance. Inside, about 300 people occupied the separate prayer rooms for men and women that were adorned with vibrant blue carpets. The tranquility was abruptly shattered by gunfire.

Armed, Tarrant relentlessly shot at the fleeing and collapsing worshippers. He then exited, drove to another mosque, the Linwood Islamic Center, and continued his ruthless assault.

Fifty-one people were killed and forty-nine injured. Tarrant used a body camera to live-stream the massacre on the internet, and the footage rapidly spread worldwide.

Prime Minister's Unprecedented Statement

On March 19, just four days after the horrific event unmatched in New Zealand's history, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, pledged in Parliament never to say the gunman's name.

"He sought many things from his act of terror, but one was notoriety - that is why you will never hear me mention his name."

This unconventional declaration by the Prime Minister was reported with considerable surprise by the media, not only domestically but also around the world.

The greater the severity of the crime, the more vital it becomes to examine the perpetrator's identity — his origins, beliefs, and motives. It is the media's nature to thoroughly investigate and delve deeper into these aspects. 

However, the majority of New Zealand's press, while reporting on Tarrant's early life, adopted a restrained approach to discussing his ideology and name.

This stance was not simply a matter of adhering to the Prime Minister's request. Rather, it was an exercise of their "freedom not to report," a distinct aspect of freedom of expression.

The Struggle Over 'The Right to Know'

Andrew Little, 59, served as Minister of Justice and other roles under Jacinda Ardern's administration during the Christchurch mosque shootings. He recalled, "I agreed with the Prime Minister immediately after hearing her. At that time, all of New Zealand was in shock. We wanted to break the cycle of fear and avoid giving the suspect a platform to spread his ideologies."

In New Zealand, the so-called mainstream media are relatively few. Only 22 newspapers, including major ones, and about two television stations report the news. Compared to Japan, which has over 300 media outlets across newspapers, television, and radio, New Zealand's media landscape is considerably smaller.

However, this does not mean it is easier to control. According to Little, the strong sense of independence among these outlets led to some backlash against the Prime Minister's declaration. Some claimed that the government attempted to control freedom of speech.

Minimizing Notoriety

Nevertheless, most media ultimately aligned with the Prime Minister's stance.

Local newspaper The Press chose not to feature the shooter's name, Brenton Tarrant, in their headlines the day after the incident. They mentioned it only within the article.

Before committing the act, Tarrant posted a manifesto on 8chan, an anonymous message board known for its extreme content. One of his objectives was to gain notoriety.

Tarrant likely understood that when a terrorist act is remembered alongside the perpetrator's name, it can inspire future acts. His "hero" was Anders Breivik, a white supremacist who killed 77 people in Norway in 2011. Tarrant mentioned Breivik in his manifesto, acknowledging his influence.

Considering these beliefs and motivations, The Press's senior staff debated and decided to minimize using Tarrant's name. Kamala Hayman, a 56-year-old experienced journalist at The Press, explained, "The Prime Minister did not instruct the media. She merely expressed her opinion. We at The Press made our own decision not to publish the name."

Novel Reporting Guidelines

In May 2019, New Zealand's major news organizations collectively agreed on editorial guidelines for reporting Brenton Tarrant's trial.

The guidelines included the following points:

• Limit coverage that actively defends white supremacy or related ideologies within the bounds of open justice principles.
• Do not broadcast or report messages or images designed to spread such ideologies.
• Assign experienced journalists to cover the trial.

These measures marked an unprecedented agreement in New Zealand's media landscape.

On the other hand, there was no agreement to completely omit Tarrant's name. One of the media outlets that helped formulate the guidelines, The New Zealand Herald, published an image of Tarrant. It appeared in an editorial on June 14, 2019.

"This decision was the result of careful consideration and not made lightly. The Herald's editorial team engaged in thorough discussions."

They explained their decision by citing the media's responsibility in trial reporting." Brenton Tarrant should not receive special treatment. However, our readership includes people who deserve special consideration," they stated. This, they emphasized, was out of consideration for the victims' families who could not attend the trial.

In line with their previous coverage, they concluded by stating, "Most of our articles will not include the defendant's name or photos." They, therefore, committed to limiting such publications to the necessary minimum.

A Reflective Balance

New Zealand media showed that journalists did not just disseminate information but took decisive action in response to the hate crime. Instead, they carefully weighed different values, struggling with their decisions on how to report the event.

Reflecting on the coverage five years later, Hayman said:

"Citizens have the right to know his name. However, I doubt there are any citizens who want to hear it now."

By Way of Background

Terrorism has traditionally been carried out to propagate political ideologies. While reporting on terrorism can help prevent future attacks, it also carries the risk of inspiring new terrorists who sympathize with these ideologies. July 8, 2024, marked two years since the shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. This anniversary prompts a renewed examination of how we should balance these conflicting objectives in our terrorism reporting.

Continues in Part 2: A New Era of Terrorism: A Journalist's Apology - Is the Media Contributing?

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Read the article in Japanese.

Author: The Sankei Shimbun