Islam in British media discourses : understanding perceptions of Muslims in the news

This book considers how the coverage of Islam and Muslims in the press informs the thoughts and actions of non-Muslims. As media plays an important role in society, analysing its influence(s) on a person’s ideas and conceptualisations of people with another religious persuasion is important. News reports commonly feature stories discussing terrorism, violence, the lack of integration and compatibility, or other unwelcome or irrational behaviour by Muslims and Islam. Yet there is little research on how non-Muslims actually engage with, and are affected by, such reports. To address this gap, a content and discourse analysis of news stories was undertaken; verbal narratives or thoughts and actions of participants were then elicited using interviews and focus groups. The participant accounts point towards the normativity of news stories and their negotiated reception patterns. Individual orientations towards the media as an information source proved to be a significant factor behind the importance of news reports, with individually negotiated personal encounters with Muslims or Islam further affecting the meaning-making process. Participants negotiated media reports to fit their existing outlook on Islam and Muslims. This outlook was constructed through, and simultaneously supported by, news reports about Muslims and Islam. The findings suggest a co-dependency and co-productivity between news reports and participant responses. This research clearly shows that participant responses are (re)productions of local and personal contextuality, where the consequences of socially constructed depictions of Islam and Muslims engage rather than influence individual human thoughts and actions. "Inspired by the apparent overtly negative coverage of Islam and Muslims by the mainstream press, this book explores the ways depictions of Muslims and Islam in the News inform the thoughts and actions of non-Muslims. As the media plays an important role in society, the analysis of the influences of the media on a person's ideas and conceptualisations of people of another religious persuasion is an important social issue. News reports about Islam and Muslims commonly relate stories that discuss terrorism, violence or other unwelcome or irrational behaviour, or the lack of integration and compatibility of Muslims and Islam with western values and society. Yet there is little research on how non-Muslims actually engage with and are affected by media reports about Islam and Muslims. To address this gap of knowledge, a content and discourse analysis of news stories was undertaken and then verbal narratives or thoughts and actions of participants were elicited through fieldwork using interviews and focus groups. The data reveals personal stories that point towards the normativity of news stories and their negotiated reception patterns. Individual orientations towards the media as a primary information source proved to be a significant factor behind the importance of news reports, with individually negotiated personal encounters with Muslims or Islam further affecting the meaning-making process. Participants negotiated media reports to fit their existing outlook on Islam and Muslims. This existing outlook was constructed through, and simultaneously supported by, news reports about Muslims and Islam. The findings suggest a co-dependency and co-productivity between news reports about Islam and Muslims, and participant responses. This research clearly shows that participant responses are (re) productions of local and personal contextuality, where the consequences of socially constructed depictions of Islam and Muslims engage rather than influence individual human thoughts and actions." -- Back cover Media Reporting On Islam And Muslims Commonly Relate Stories About Terrorism, Violence, Or The Lack Of Integration With Western Values And Society. Yet There Is Little Research Into How Non-muslims Engage With And Are Affected By These News Reports. Inspired By The Overtly Negative Coverage Of Islam And Muslims By The Mainstream Press And The Increase In Islamophobia Across Europe, This Book Explores The Influence Of These Depictions On The Thoughts And Actions Of Non-muslims. Building On Extensive Fieldwork Interviews And Focus Groups, Laurens De Rooij Argues That Individuals Negotiate Media Reports To Fit Their Existing Outlook On Islam And Muslims. Non-muslim Responses To These Reports, De Rooij Argues, Are Not Only (re)productions Of Local And Personal Contextuality, But Are Co-dependent And Co-productive To The Reports Themselves.-- Book Cover Introduction -- 1. Modes Of Production: British Media As A Discursive System -- 2. Symbolic Representations Of Islam And Muslims -- 3. A Dialectic Of Media Theory And Audience Praxis -- 4. Examining The Influence Of Current Media Portrayals Of Islam And Muslims -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index. Laurens De Rooij. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front matter Contents List of figures List of tables Acknowledgements Introduction Modes of production: British media as a discursive system Symbolic representations of Islam and Muslims A dialectic of media theory and audience praxis Examining the influence of current media portrayals of Islam and Muslims Conclusion Bibliography Index This book describes how non Muslims use the news to inform themselves about Islam and Muslims. It does so by exploring how media institutions function in society and how its practices affect the production of images and symbols about Muslims and Islam, as well as their influence on audiences.