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U.S. Media and the Framing of Islam After 9/11

U.S. Media and the Framing of Islam After 9/11. Shelby Grant. Abstract. Following 9/11, the media framed Islam only in negative, biased, and prejudiced ways. In turn, viewers have been led to view Islam as violence, extremism, and outright terrorism. What is Framing?.

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U.S. Media and the Framing of Islam After 9/11

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  1. U.S. Media and the Framing of Islam After 9/11 Shelby Grant

  2. Abstract • Following 9/11, the media framed Islam only in negative, biased, and prejudiced ways. In turn, viewers have been led to view Islam as violence, extremism, and outright terrorism.

  3. What is Framing? • A method of agenda setting by media networks • “How pieces of information are selected and organized” (Ryan) • Information collected is interpreted through a certain lens– in this case, predominately white Christians.

  4. Islam as Extremism • In television: Martin and Phelan’s study of 4.18 million word body of transcripts from five major T.V. news networks. Most used phrases: “Islamic fundamentalists,” “Islamic militants,” “Islamic extremists.”

  5. Islam as Extremism • In print: ErvandAbrahamian’s examination of the New York Times • This is a Religious War: pictures of atrocities from mediaeval Europe, including Goya’s Spanish Inquisition • Bush’s statement: “crusade against terrorism”

  6. Islam as Violence • Abrahamian: NYT articles titled “Defusing the Holy Bomb,” “Barbarians at the Gates,” “The Core of Muslim Rage.” • Martin and Phelan: “Islamic jihad” one of the most frequently used terms, most often times referring to the physical struggle in a violent form against enemies of Islam.

  7. Islam as Violence • Framing leads viewers to believe “violence originates in the irrational psyches of the [Islamic] militants, warped by the tenets and practices of Islam” (Baker).

  8. Islam as Terrorism • Extremism + Violence = Terrorism • Because terrorism is “shocking and sensational,” it demands attention from viewers when presented in the media • “Maximum impact of an act of terrorism comes from widespread media coverage” (Powell)

  9. Inclusion versus Exclusion • In framing, what is left out is just as important as what is included • Lack of any background other than government or military officials • “If people knew [the] history, they wouldn’t just sit and listen” (Zinn)

  10. Inclusion versus Exclusion • “The current image of Islam that depicts this pure religion as one that promotes intolerance and disruption in a society is contradictory to Islamic teachings” (Baloach)

  11. Conclusion • By framing Islam in a biased manner and including only limited viewpoints, the U.S. media failed to do their job in covering the aftermath of 9/11.

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