They are more likely to use unreliable sources, misleading headlines and biased articles.
A report has found that right-wing and religious media outlets are more likely to spread negative misinformation about Muslims.
The Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM) report analysed over 10,000 articles which mentioned Muslims and rated them on five metrics for accuracy.
They found that right-wing and religious outlets are more likely to use unreliable source, misleading headlines and publish articles CfMM regards as “very biased”.
One of the worst offenders, according to CfMM, is the Spectator magazine. The researchers found that 29% of its articles which mentioned muslims were “very biased”.
One example is Qanta Ahmed’s Spectator article which claimed there is no basis for the niqab in Islam. CfMM say this is a misrepresentation which ignores and negates the belief of some women whose decision to wear the niqab is rooted in particular interpretation of the religion.
Another example is Dominic Green’s claim in the Spectator that Muslims target him for his Jewish blood. CfMM say this is just one example of a common generalisation used in the media – that Muslims are anti-semitic.
Another way in which the media is often biased against Muslims is when it associates Muslims or Islam with negative behaviour.
For example, they say, about an article by Trevor Phillips in the Daily Mail: “While arguing for more power for prison governors against gang members, Phillips singles out the nationality and religion of “Pakistani Muslims”, while using broader terms for “Black” and “White” people.”
The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Christian Today are most often guilty of this while the New Statesman, Guardian and Observer do it less often, the study found.
Another metric of anti-Muslim bias the study uses is when the media highlights the Muslim identity of a negative person but not a sympathetic person.
For example, a comment piece in the Jewish Chronicle mentions both Iranian Ayatollah Khomeini’s and the poet Rumi. Only Khomeini’s muslim identity is highlighted.
The report’s author Faisal Hanif concludes: “The critical mass of this output, particularly among the right leaning media, (although by no means exclusively), has the effect of dehumanising Muslims.”
The report recommends better fact-checking and more responsible editorial decisions.
14 Responses to “Right-wing media biased against Muslims, finds report”
Dave Roberts
I’ll say one thing for this blog, it’s quick off the gun as the Center for Media Monitoring is only being launched this today. It’s sponsored by The Muslim Association of Britain and is run from the East London Mosque and Muslim Centre which was exposed by John Ware in an award winning Panorama programme as being controlled and run by extremists. John has another programme on tomorrow exposing anti semitism in the Labour Party so he is pretty even handed.
Patrick Newman
For those who do not want to wallow in the Roberts bullshit here is the link to the Centre for Media Monitoring so you can judge for yourself. The Ware programme was transmitted in 2005.
Dave Roberts
Patrick Neuman! You’re alive. You keep disappearing and we miss your idiotic comments so much. Now, you really must pay attention, and sit up!
The documentary I refer to by Ware was in, I think, 2010 or thereabouts. It was certainly after the documentary by Andrew Gilligan about Lutfur Rahman and the massive corruption in Tower Hamlets. Both of those programmes contributed to the court case which destroyed the crook, Rahman, who is still being defended by idiots like you.
Do you have anything sensible to say or are you the same as ever, a dimwitted dupe of Islamist reaction? I’ll have to watch myself, I’m starting to sound like a Marxist, and that would never do.
Dave Roberts
The John Ware programme went out in April 2014 and is still well worth watching as is the Gilligan programme. All of the Lutfur defenders at the time got their comeuppance. Livingstone, Ian Burrell in The Independent, the SWP, and Uncle Tom Cobble and all. All liars and now prove so. I understand from Muslim friends, and it was Muslims who gave evidence against him in the main, tell me that Rahman has property in Dubai, Bahrain and Bangladesh bought with money stolen from the people of Tower Hamlets, with your full knowledge and approval Mr Neuman.
Tom Sacold
Writing as an atheist, all religion has to be challenged, but some religions have more to be challenged on than others !!!