*** The Session Has Begun. Please Submit Your Questions. ***
Answer
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Name
Conrad Black-2
-
Profession
Question
Which U.S. mainstream media organizations do you think is more likely to hire good qualified Muslim journalists?
Answer
Any network would hire good journalist weather they are Muslim or not. There is a pressing need for good hard working journalist whose work is smart.
Name
Lamyya
-
Profession
Question
Why do you thing that Arabs in particular have been singled out as always being the terrorist and why do they use Islam when portrying them in the movies
Answer
Well, first of all I think there are many reasons why Arabs and Muslims are vilified in the media. The first is politics. The Arab-Israeli conflict plays a major role. We can see that the majority of Muslims that are vilified are the Arabs. Second is the news. The major headlines are selected for most of the media production. They selectively interchange images as Saddam Hussein and others with Islam and Arabs. The community by and large is also responsible. The community is not working hard enough to fight these images. I went to a mosque in Los Angeles. I told the mosque leaders that you are located in Los Angeles. The leader explained that here at the mosque there were more ethnicities than just Arabs. Yes the only Muslims who are being vilified are the Arabs. The community by and large has not gotten together to change the media’s portrayal of Arabs and Muslims. Even the Arab and Muslim organizations that are complaining about the negative portrayal fails to do anything about it but complain. We are not present and we do not exist in the mainstream American society. If our children were to become lawyers, journalists, businessmen, and populate these fields that affect the media, Arabs and Islam would not be vilified.
Name
Zulfikar
- Pakistan
Profession
Question
Is the American media getting better or worse at portraying issues related Muslims?
Answer
It is interesting because American colleges are getting better and there is more awareness. Also this is the same with books and other publications. However, with the media and with movies this has intensified and it certainly hasn’t gotten any better.
Name
Samar
- United States
Profession
Question
Do you sense any improvement in the media's sensitivity to the negative portrayal of Arabs and Muslims films, sitcoms etc.? Have they taken any positive steps towards realizing that such stereotyping can in fact be construed as racism?
Answer
Actually, it has gotten worse over a period of time. The last movies have gotten even worse. Also we take cable channels and networks, each and every week there are movies shown on these networks that vilify Arabs and Muslims. No other group is being vilified like Arabs and Muslims. From children cartoons to series like Charlie’s Angeles, repeats of films like The Siege, etc. These films are repeated constantly. Arabs parents have to regrettably shield their children from watching these programs. However, even if the children don’t see these programs, their peers at school see them and there is pressure on Arab and Muslim children to deny their identity
Name
Ameenah
- United States
Profession
Question
Is the media bias now as much of a problem as it ever was - or has the growing number (albeit sparse) of non-political "positive" portrayals of Muslims/Arabs in daily life in the US in some major media made any difference?
Answer
I think that some news journalist, especially near the holidays and near Ramadan have been nice in their presentation of Islam. However people like William Sapphire, with the New York Times and others, their rhetoric has intensified and has become worse. Muslims should understand this media, as the U.S. is the leading exporter of this medium. The Arab/Muslim terrorist is the same in Iceland, Belgium and everywhere else in the world.
Name
Fatiha
- United States
Profession
Question
What is the cause of the media's negative image of Muslims?
Answer
Many reasons, among them are greed, profit, lack of presence in the media, lack of Muslims and Arabs to make a bigger impact. The lack of Impact is the biggest reason. The Muslim and Arab community should be offering scholarships and should be giving them (younger generation) incentives, particularly for those families who would like to study in this area, but can’t because of lack of funds. Also because of the political reasons, we need to present the Human Arabs to reverse this way of thinking. We need to have a big star, such as a Brad Pitt Or a Paul Neumann, who can say something such as in a film about the Oklahoma City tragedy, which their hasn’t been anything said about as of yet and their should be.
Name
Shahnaz
- United Kingdom
Profession
carer
Question
Asalaam Alaikum Warahmuthulahi Wabarakathuhu
Hope u are well, and in the best of health inshallah.
I was wondering what your opinion is, on HOW a change can be made about the perception of Muslims in the media, and where it can begin.
Jazak Allah Khair, May Allah reward u for your efforts, Ameen.
Answer
I think that it begins with every individual; everyone needs to speak out. I think that the biggest complaint is that the Arab community likes to talk. They need to make actions, call, and write letters. One person can make a difference. Look at Rosa Parks, who had heard of her before she got on the bus. Now everyone knows her and look at the difference that she made and the laws that were changed because of her. One person can make a difference.
Name
'aishah
- Ireland
Profession
Question
What can working Muslim journalists do to improve understanding of Islam among media organizations, etc? I.E., is there anything we should be doing beyond what the ordinary Muslim citizen can do?
Answer
I think to be the best journalist that you can be, in other words that you can demonstrate to other colleagues in the news rooms and that you care, not just about your own people, but all people. You can alert them to double standards and there is a duty in that you must educate without preaching. I think the best thing you can do is with your actions, because they will judge all Muslims by your behavior. Don’t be seduced by off-hand comments and stereotypes. Educate your colleagues in a professional manner.
Name
Karim
-
Profession
Question
Do you recommend any particular techniques for Muslim journalists to follow to present a truer, fairer picture of Islam and Muslims? How can Muslim media organization create a place for itself?
Answer
I think that Muslims can create a place for themselves by being fair in their reporting and be equal in all that they do. They can also criticize things within the community and outside of it. If you are an example of tolerance and your behavior shows this, it will show and people will respect your heritage and faith. Patience and perseverance are two important words in this and respect will follow.
