This week, I want to talk about the bias in media coverage featuring Muslims. After 9/11, this group of people is often connected to terrorism in several news stories. The term called "islamophobia" can be used in the discussion of bias in related stories. According to the article from Gallup, islamophobia indicates “exaggerated fear, hatred, and hostility toward Islam and Muslims that is perpetuated by negative stereotypes.” Not every Muslim is dangerous and will harm society. Journalists’ description of Muslims can reinforce the bias and stereotypes towards this group, worsening the situations of innocent people in this group in various aspects.
First, studies find that news articles featuring Muslims in the U.S. are far more negative than that of other minority groups. I watched a documentary called “(T)error” last year. The film depicted an active FBI case, in which a Muslim was arrested and accused of being a “potential” bad actor in society. In fact, the Muslims in the film did nothing wrong. His tragedy may result from the rooted discrimination towards them in society. The media plays a significant role in strengthening the bias towards people in this group.
Second, media portrayals of Muslim women may marginalize them to some extent. According to the article from Media Smarts, the most common words used to describe Muslim women by journalists and politicians are “segregated,” “beaten,”“insults” and “veil." However, while some Muslim women may conform to the traditional patriarchal hierarchies, many other women in this group lead an independent life. The biased representation of Muslim women can leave a negative impression on the public.
Reference:
https://news.gallup.com/poll/157082/islamophobia-understanding-anti-muslim-sentiment-west.aspx
https://www.newsweek.com/muslims-negative-news-coverage-1457942
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