A detailed study of print and broadcast reports reveals a serious problem in the way that British media reports about Islam and Muslims.
Examining over 10,000 articles and clips referring to Muslims and Islam in the period of Q4 2018, the study was conducted by the Muslim Council of Britain’s newly formed Centre for Media Monitoring, which presents its findings in parliament today.
The study’s methodology was verified by Professor Paul Baker, one of the leading corpus linguist experts in the country.
The study reveals:
59% of all articles associated Muslims with negative behaviour
37% of articles in right-leaning and religious publications were categorised with the most negative rating of “very biased”
Over a third of all articles misrepresented or generalised about Muslims
Terrorism was the most common theme
Case study examples highlighted include the Spectator’s publication of the statement: “there are Muslims who want to come and get me for my Jewish blood”, Christian Today’s headline “The European Church is sleeping
while Islam is creeping in, says African bishop” and the usage of the image of terrorist Khalid Masood at the pilgrimage of Hajj. [Centre for Media Monitoring] Read more
