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RESOURCE
MATERIAL / Media
Diversity: RELIGION |
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A
selection of articles and resources examining the theory of the media's role in
reporting on religion |
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Report on British Muslims and the Media by Mayor of London (March 2008) 
The 180 page Report
'The Search for Common Ground - Muslims, Non-Muslims, and the UK Media'
was commissioned by the Mayor of London. It extensively covers the relationship between Muslims in the UK and the media, and includes topics such as the concept of Britishness, experiences of Muslim journalists, and Islamophobia. (PDF / 606KB) |
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Report on Discrimination and Islamophobia in the EU by the EUMC
The report “Muslims in the European Union: Discrimination and Islamophobia”, published presents available data on discrimination affecting Muslims in employment, education and housing. Manifestations of Islamophobia range from verbal threats through to physical attacks on people and property. The report stresses that the extent and nature of discrimination and Islamophobic incidents against European Muslims remain under-documented and under-reported. The EUMC report recommends therefore that Member States improve the reporting of incidents and implement measures to counter discrimination and racism more effectively. The report also includes initiatives and proposals for policy action by EU Member State governments and the European institutions to combat Islamophobia and to foster integration. Read more on this report. |
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Reporting
Diversity – Religion
The Media Diversity
Institute’s “Reporting Diversity Guide” is a comprehensive manual
for journalists and trainers. It includes a ‘Religion’ section which
provides tips on reporting on religious issues and groups, and case studies of
two articles on this theme from Serbia and the United States. (MDI,
2002) (PDF
/ 160KB) |
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What Can A Word Do?
A final report, produced by Yerevan Press Club ( Armenia ), “Yeni Nesil” Journalists Union ( Azerbaijan ) and “ Black Sea Press” Association (Georgia) with the support of Eurasia Foundation Program of Cooperation in South Caucasus. The report sums up a study of the press of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia aiming to understand how it contributes to hostility in the three neighbor countries towards each other. Proceeding from the primary research administered, the report writers argue that the media of the three countries do not provide adequate and accurate coverage each other and often use negative stereotypes and clichés about each other. |
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Israeli Media Coverage of killing of Palestinians
The research by Keshev, Jerusalem based NGO, investigates media coverage of the events in December 2005, when, according to the major media outlets in Israel , 22 Palestinians were killed. In the framework of this study, Keshev examined all relevant items in the daily editions of the three major newspapers, Ha'aretz , Yedioth Ahronoth and Ma'ariv , and the nightly television newscasts on Channels 1, 2 and 10. A total of 135 items were examined. (KESHEV) |
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Muslim voices: Women's views
What role do women play in Muslim communities - and does wider society focus on the negative stereotypes, rather than the real people? (BBC) |
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Guidelines for countering racial, ethnic and religious profiling
Guidelines for countering racial, ethnic and religious profiling in coverage of the war on terrorism, from the US Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). The SPJ urges journalists to use language that is informative and not inflammatory; to portray Muslims, Arabs and Middle Eastern and South Asian Americans in a way that reflects the richness of their diverse experiences; and to seek truth through a variety of voices and perspectives. (SPJ) |
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90% of UK Muslim students surveyed want media coverage of Muslims to change
A survey of 400 Muslim students in Britain by the Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) following the 7 July bombings in London found that 90 percent feel that the way Muslims are presented in the media needs to be changed. One student commented that "my local paper recently had a picture of Muslims praying on the front page, with the headline 'Extremism hits our Town'." (FOSIS)
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Survey finds Muslims and non-Muslims share concerns on Islamic extremism
Concerns over Islamic extremism, extensive in the West, are shared to a considerable degree by the publics in some predominantly Muslim nations - but opinions differ as to its causes. That is the finding of a survey of 17,000 people in 17 countries conducted by the Pew Global Attitudes Project. The poll also found that Muslim and non-Muslim publics have very different attitudes regarding the impact of Islam on their countries.
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Warnings
of rising racism in Italy after newspaper publishes book
Human rights groups have warned that racism is becoming increasingly
tolerated in Italy, after the country's biggest-selling newspaper
published a book by a veteran journalist which warns of an Arab
invasion of Europe. (By Sophie
Arie, The Guardian, 7 August, 2004)
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Between
the Lines: Stereotyping of Sisters in the Media
Sister Phyllis Giroux conducted a study of 50 United States' and
Canadian articles and advertisements culled from Catholic and other
newspapers and magazines that depicted nuns. How, she asks, do they
represent - or misrepresent - religious women?
(Center for Media Literacy)
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Nigeria 2002: A case study of media impact on ethnic and religioustension |
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In November 2002, the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna erupted in violence, leaving more than 200 people dead and thousands injured or forced to flee their homes. Long-running tensions between two communities in Nigeria were apparently aggravated by an international event, the Miss World contest that some Nigerians found distasteful, and then inflamed by an article in the Nigerian 'ThisDay' national newspaper. The whole troubled story makes a good case study for anyone interested in local reporting and the role of the media during conflict or in situations of ethnic and religious tension. |
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C4
has inside story on Hajj
In
what is seen as a world broadcasting first, Channel 4 is hiring a team of Muslim
journalists so it can present a nightly news report from inside Mecca during the
week of Hajj. (Press
Gazette Online, 16 January 2003) |
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• The
Demonising of Islam
The
UK media has fuelled a fear of Islam, seeking out the 'radical' British Muslim
fringe but ignoring voices from the mainstream, says Inayat Bunglawala,
secretary of the media committee of
The Muslim Council of Britain.
(Press Gazette Online, 17 October
2002) |
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