Why Selective Cover For The Mainstream Media?

[methodology]

Objectives:

The aim of my research is to gain an understanding into the effects of Islam and Muslims in the British Media. Its objectives are to:

Ø  Identify the context Islam and Muslims appear in British Television

Ø  Identify the central sources that shape the understanding of Islam in British Television

Ø  Analyse the impact of re-shaping and representation of Muslims and how they appear on the news

Ø  Other questions I will outline are how and when Muslims became visible in the UK.

        I.            Possible outline of the project:

Introduction – In what context do British Muslims appear in the news?

·         Outline of project

·         Since when has the Muslim community been harassed and regarded negatively?

Section 1 - How is Islam being termed in television media?

·         Terrorism and war

·         Religious and cultural issues

·         Muslim extremism

·         News hooks figures that show the common purpose of why Muslims are being intimidated.

·         What hook remains prominence?

Section 2 - How has television news constructed the Muslim community, has it left the audience questioning the actions of a few?

Is the media to blame for being biased towards Muslims? If so how?

Links to Osama Bin Laden and why did they have to shame him? What links does it have to the Muslim community?

How does the audience feel? Are they threatened? Why have the actions of a few affected the whole of mankind?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00xw21x/Face_the_Facts_Islamophobia/

Section 3 - How is Islam compared to other religions in television news?

·         Is Islam the only religion which the media and the materialistic world can damage?

·         The religion Islam is not judged according to its teachings but by the actions of followers. (To what extent is this true?)

Section 4 – ‘News Value’ and the media being selective?

·          Is the negative presentation of news about Muslim influenced by the so called ‘news values’? If so why?

·         Does the negativity arise from global events? What events have lead for the stories told about Muslims?

·         Mislead stories suggests that ―Muslims as extremists plotting to bring carnage to the country‖ or ―as a threat to the Christian faith and the British way of life. Are these stories true?

Section 5 – Conclusion

·         How will the portrayal of Islam changed in television news?

·         Will the TV coverage of Islam change the British values of British TV? (Will the news always be based on Islam, what about other stories?)

·         This conclusion will be based on the evidence I find in my research.

In my view the existing research regarding Islam and Muslims in the British media suggests that since 7/7 Muslims in the UK have captivated the spotlight. The question arises to many communities about why British Muslims chose to bomb their fellow British Citizens. Also, my aims are to identify whether the 9/11 left them in the focus in the British media for the act of ‘terrorism’ why couldn’t they just be called criminals?

Refer to British films that break the stereotypes of Muslims.

Questionnaire

Ø  The questions included in this survey sought responses regarding the respondents:

·         Knowledge of Islam and its main teachings;

·          Interaction with Muslims

·          Main source of information about Islam and Muslims

·         Perceptions about how Muslims are represented in the media

·         Perceptions about how influential is the media and news

·         understanding of Islam and Muslims; and  Perceptions of statements made by participants