Terrorists try to appear in the media as often and for as long as possible, to become well known to the public. They attempt to influence the public by spreading the word about the organization's existence: terrorists attract attention and people learn about the group's existence, methods and goals. Indeed, terrorists are carrying out proxy propaganda (Transnational Terrorism, 2008, p. 7). Terrorists use the media “not only to make themselves known to the public, but they also want to try to spread their messages through the media. Sometimes this can be achieved simply by carrying out attacks: the public may wonder why people would do such things” (Transnational Terrorism, 2008, p. 8). The result of terrorists using the media to their advantage has led to “terrorist attacks being increasingly carefully planned to attract media attention” (Weimann, 1987, p. 23). Setting and Agenda Setting in the MediaWith the Audience Because the reliance on news is so high, it becomes more possible for the media to frame information in a way specific to the audience. The media's role in reporting the news gives them the “potential to structure issues for the public” (Littlejohn & Foss, 2011, p. 341). “Agenda setting is the theory according to which the more attention a media pays to a certain phenomenon, the greater the importance the public attributes to that issue” (Transnational Terrorism, 2008, p. 5). “Media coverage often overdramatizes an event by focusing on the emotional buildup, deadlines, and possible resulting scenarios” (Weimann, 1987, p. 27). Often in media portrayals of terrorism, “dramatic images are chosen instead of words to communicate a specific message… Global citizens are paying attention… middle of the paper… the information we receive from them, from people around the world still makes heavy reliance on the media for news. The intertwined relationship between terrorists and the media plays a role in exactly how the media depicts terrorist attacks. While it can be argued that reporting on behalf of the terrorist and the motivation for his action simply gives the terrorist what he wants, it still remains crucial for the media to report the news. The media must struggle to find a balance between reporting the news and de-emphasizing the terrorist's wants/needs. The specific way a terrorist is portrayed in the news can directly influence how the public perceives that terrorist and his or her actions. This research paper will examine how the media's portrayal of the Boston Marathon bomber, Dzhokar Tsaernev, shaped the public's perception of him and, more importantly, his actions.