Media has anti-Muslim bias, claims report

(n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/nov/14/pressandpublishing.raceintheuk

Media has anti-Muslim bias, claims report

The image of Muslims has been taken over by extremists causing most of the portrayals of Muslims to be negative and stereotypical. Within the past few years, the amount of TV shows including an Arab American as a character has decreased significantly. Muslims are spoken of on the news and in various forms of media in ways that would not be accepted by other groups. TV news is  dominated by Muslim terrorist acts and events that influence the perception people have of this group. These negative stereotypes are present everywhere, yet not often noticed in print as much as other types of media.

“Around 37% of respondents said they had very limited exposure to news and information about Islam, while nearly three-quarters said the media depicts Arab Muslims and Islam accurately only half the time.”

“The study claims that TV news and documentaries have the strongest influence on people's views of Islam, followed by newspaper coverage.”

The fact that the way Muslims are represented is inaccurate and biased raises many concerns. It is important to assure that stereotypes don’t become the overall representation of a group and that negative feelings towards a group aren’t simply thrown around. The level of respect that is present when speaking about certain groups of people should apply to all groups in order to maintain a society that is cultured and tolerant. It is impossible to teach tolerance to a population that is dominated by news reports and portrayals that stereotype people.

Negative Portrayals of Muslims Get More Media Attention

Negative Portrayals of Muslims Get More Media Attention

Pappas, B. (2012, November 29). Negative Portrayals of Muslims Get More Media Attention. Retrieved February 19, 2015, from http://www.livescience.com/25110-negative-messages-muslims-media.html

The representation of Muslims has dramatically changed since September 11, 2001. Public fear and misrepresentation of an entire group has grown. Specialists dedicate their lives to following these trends and observing shifts and changes. It has been noted that when it comes to broadcasts and overall press releases, the most emotional ones received the most attention. Not only are these the more emotional releases, but also the least representative of the group. Many of these broadcasts instill fear and anger in the public, causing a generalization of the group and their ideologies.

Muslims attempt to shine light on these misrepresentations, but most of the messages they put out are also emotional. These receive media attention, but label Muslims as being too sensitive and standing up for terrorism.

“"What happens in the media matters to the groups themselves," Bail said.”

“He found press releases that were emotional, displaying fear and anger, had the best chance of getting the media's attention (85 percent of all the press releases went unnoticed by journalists).”

I found this article very interesting because it was able to dissect different media trends and ideologies. This article is able to show how emotion plays a major role in the way groups are perceived. Not only that, but emotions seem to correlate with weakness and sensitivity. It is important to be aware of the misrepresentations that multiple groups face and stay informed in order to form a personal opinion on topics.

From Aladdin to Lost Ark, Muslims get angry at 'bad guy' film images

From Aladdin to Lost Ark, Muslims get angry at 'bad guy' film images

 (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jan/25/broadcasting.race 

As media continues to develop, it seems that followers of the Islamic religion are continuously being represented in the same manner. Muslims are reaching out, explaining that these biased portrayals are affecting their daily lives. Movies like Aladdin, East is East, and others have done the job of portraying Muslims in a negative manner. Muslims explain that the problem isn’t simply that they are being represented in a negative manner, but rather that it is the only way which they are represented in the media. It has recently been proven that Hollywood representations has a crucial role in shaping the way the public views Muslims.

“A survey conducted as part of the research revealed that Muslims in Britain felt negative images of their faith on the big and small screen had consequences in their daily lives.”

“research also found a perception of "unashamed bias" in the media against Muslims, with 62% believing the media to be Islamophobic and 16% describing it as racist. Only 4% considered its representation "fair".”

I think it is horribly unfair to have such a biased portrayal of Muslims in the media. The fact that the media makes Muslims feel uncomfortable due to the way they are portrayed is absolutely ridiculous. This article shows that it is time to take action and really put a stop to this negative portrayal of a group in the media.

Media Portrayals of Religion: Islam.

 Media Portrayals of Religion: Islam.

Media Portrayals of Religion: Islam.(n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://mediasmarts.ca/diversity-media/religion/media-portrayals-religion-islam 

Media coverage and portrayal of followers of the Islamic religion has changed drastically in the past decade. This sudden change can more or less be traced back to the events that occurred on September 11, 2001. The American led "War on Terrorism" has led to an increased fear and hatred of Islam. It has created a stereotype of Muslims that is linked to violence.
These stereotypes have often been represented on present day media. An example includes the character of Sayid Jarrah on the popular TV show Lost. The character is known to have previously worked for the Iraqi Republican Guard and is often showed using various methods of torture to achieve any goal he has in mind.
Muslim females are often portrayed as being passive victims of male power or incredibly strong feminists. 
With such drastic changes in the portrayal of Muslim people in the past decade, the overall view of Muslims has also changed. It is important to not believe every stereotype and/or portrayal of specific groups.

"The most prevalent Islamic stereotype is the radical Muslim insurgent, bent on waging jihad, or holy war, against the West."


"This increase in Islamophobia was in turn reflected in the way media outlets addressed and stereotyped Muslim populations."

I have always noticed that Muslim people are portrayed in one specific type of way regardless of the type of media. The prominent stereotype has shaped the way people view this group. It is utterly offensive to automatically relate violence with a certain group and feel as though it is necessary to hate on every person that follows the Islamic religion. It is important to stay informed and understand that just because Muslims have been involved with specific acts in the past, does not mean that every follower of the religion will do follow in those footsteps.