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This article presents a typology that explains the variation in media coverage for different kinds of terrorism. The relation o f a terrorist act to power is the focus of the typology. Grievance terrorism is fomented by groups seeking power or redress of grievance. I t receives substantial media coverage. Perpetrators of such terrorism are portrayed negatively. Institutional terrorism is employed by powerful entities to maintain or preserve the status quo. Amount and tone of coverage of such terrorism are contingent on the intended targets of such terrorism and on whether the media rely on those institutions as sources. The article addresses the political implications (i.e., public consciousness about terrorism and compliance with government policies) of such differences in coverage.The mass media, especially television, have come under fire for how they treat coverage of terrorist events. Generally, criticism centers on how the news media "allow" themselves to be exploited by terrorists, how the media "encourage" terrorism, and the "effectiveness" of terrorist tactics publicized by the media. The conventional wisdom reflected in these criticisms, however, does not hold up well when research on media coverage of terrorism is examined.The critical review of the literature presented here will dissect the conventional wisdom about media coverage of terrorism. This review results in a reconceptualization of media coverage of terrorism through a typology of terrorism that makes basic distinctions in how the media approach the subject of terrorism. The central concept informing the typology is the role of social power. The role of power is important in two aspects of this topic: (1) a terrorist incident's relationship to powerful elements in society and (2) the relationship of media to powerful institutions in society and their role in shaping the way individuals think about their world.Our first consideration concerns the relationship of a terrorist act to the dominant institutions in society. The fundamental question in this regard is, does the terrorist act serve to challenge or reinforce existing power structures? Grievance terrorism is identified as terrorism that challenges power or seeks redress of grievance. On the other hand, institutional terrorism seeks to maintain power and the status quo.Beyond the expression of power as part of the terrorist act, a second consideration necessary to understand the media's coverage of such acts is the media's own role as a powerful institution in shaping how people think about the world. Included also is the media's relationship to other powerful institutions in American society -especially the political and economic institutions that are powerful determinants in structuring the lives of individuals on a mass scale. This triangu-253

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How well students conduct research online is an increasing concern for educators at all levels, especially higher education. This paper describes the evolution of a course that examines confirmation bias, information searching, and the political economy of information as keys to becoming more information and media literate. After a key assignment in which students assess their own tendency to engage in confirmation bias, students research a social justice issue across web, news and academic research resources. Designed to build good analytical skills in assessing the trustworthiness of a variety of sources of information, the course empowers students as researchers, citizens and consumers.

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