Islam and the Media
Introduction
In present day society, the information age, specifically mass media serves as a source of communicating information and messages that is of interest to the general populace. It is the multiple functions of this medium to inform, amuse, entertain and educate on local issues and general concerns around the globe. The mass media has become the major influence in shaping our views of reality and our understanding of the way the world functions.
Statement of the problem
Since the attack of 9/11, the "war on terrorism" and Islamic religion has been dominating the media headlines. Islam in the media is generally associated with the desert, with a Bedouin life style, with backwardness, with violence and terrorism, and with the maltreatment of and discrimination against women. It is generally portrayed as a threat to free thought and civil liberties, a threat to progress and development, and a threat to world peace and stability.
Most of the ideas and information that the Western societies have about Islam are due to the mass media. Reporters who cover the Muslim world often know very little details about Islam and Muslims. As a result of the general ethnocentrism that exists in the west, the media then develops a distorted image of Islam that Western culture has adopted. The media's keen interest in Islam is motivated primarily by a desire to understand terrorism. The debate is framed as getting to know the religion of the terrorists rather than the religion that the terrorists hijacked. The difference is a proportional significance. The same approach would never be applied to Christianity or Judaism. There would not be an attempt to learn more about Christianity to understand people blowing up abortion clinics.
The demonisation of Islam or at least the widely held perceptions of it is leading to an alienation of Muslim communities as minorities in the West. Coverage of the social, economic and political problems, such as immigration and
In present day society, the information age, specifically mass media serves as a source of communicating information and messages that is of interest to the general populace. It is the multiple functions of this medium to inform, amuse, entertain and educate on local issues and general concerns around the globe. The mass media has become the major influence in shaping our views of reality and our understanding of the way the world functions.
Statement of the problem
Since the attack of 9/11, the "war on terrorism" and Islamic religion has been dominating the media headlines. Islam in the media is generally associated with the desert, with a Bedouin life style, with backwardness, with violence and terrorism, and with the maltreatment of and discrimination against women. It is generally portrayed as a threat to free thought and civil liberties, a threat to progress and development, and a threat to world peace and stability.
Most of the ideas and information that the Western societies have about Islam are due to the mass media. Reporters who cover the Muslim world often know very little details about Islam and Muslims. As a result of the general ethnocentrism that exists in the west, the media then develops a distorted image of Islam that Western culture has adopted. The media's keen interest in Islam is motivated primarily by a desire to understand terrorism. The debate is framed as getting to know the religion of the terrorists rather than the religion that the terrorists hijacked. The difference is a proportional significance. The same approach would never be applied to Christianity or Judaism. There would not be an attempt to learn more about Christianity to understand people blowing up abortion clinics.
The demonisation of Islam or at least the widely held perceptions of it is leading to an alienation of Muslim communities as minorities in the West. Coverage of the social, economic and political problems, such as immigration and