There absolutely is a mutually beneficial interchange between &#x27;terrorists&#x27;, &#x27;the media&#x27; and &#x27;authorities&#x27;. Each gets something out of the others existence and would have a much harder time getting their advantages without this assistance. That&#x27;s also why this whole cycle is so hard to break.<p>For contrast: during war time there is a blanket ban on reporting &#x27;bad news&#x27;, successful attacks on ones own troops by the opponent because that is demoralizing or something to that effect. But if it really were demoralizing how come during peace time we amplify attacks way out of proportion? You&#x27;d expect that if the media being told to shut their traps would be to the advantage of those governing that this would be a fairly small thing to arrange. Instead we have the opposite, every instance of an individual event gets blown <i>way</i> out of proportion to push those buttons of powerful emotions.