BY: W. Shadid, 25-9-2008

It is commonly known that Dutch media’s reports on Islam and Muslims are subjective and prejudiced. Because of their overwhelming interest in sensational news, media make themselves guilty of a number of things such as concentrating on generalization and stigmatization when presenting events and statements. This also applies to the simplification of Muslim culture, dividing society ethnically into ‘we’ and ‘they’, the portrayal of Muslims as being dangerous, back warded, irrational and fanatic. As a result, Muslims have become contemned and mistrusted in society.

This type of reporting procedure used by the media is frequently confirmed by National and international research. Most recent confirmation in this regard is presented in the report of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance published in 2008. The Commission states that “Since ECRI’s second report, most information on the presence of stigmatising or unbalanced reporting in the Netherlands in the areas covered by ECRI’s mandate has concerned the portrayal of the Muslim communities. These communities are widely reported to have been the subject of generalisations and frequent associations with terrorism in both print and broadcast media. Although, as noted in ECRI’s second report, codes of media self-regulation are in place, they are reported to be rarely applied in practice”.
In order to substantiate their comments on the unbalanced media reports on Muslims and Islam, researchers frequently refer to specific newspapers’ articles and radio and TV programs. However, the selection and presentation of news as well as the context in which it is presented are even more indicative for the subjective character and one-sidedness of the media.
Furthermore, the relative small number of Muslim journalists appointed by the media and the low representation of Muslim experts in normal radio and TV programs are essential aspects in this regard. Members of these groups who nonetheless are presented as experts are either well rewarded polluters of their own cultural nest, or the unflexible ones who are mainly interviewed for the sake of popular entertainment.
The relative absence of Muslim journalists in Dutch media is often explained by reference to an alleged low social status of the journalist profession within these groups. However, this supposition is questionable. The fact that merely 2% of the 14000 employed Dutch journalists are of immigrant origin, but on the other hand the BBC succeeded to increase the percentage of such journalists to 9%, reveals a different picture.
There exists consensus about the necessity of change of this unbalanced reporting. However, structural changes in the media in relation to Muslims and Islam can only be realized through the introduction of a serious policy of media diversity that deals with the media structure, program content, and mode of reporting and presentation. However, this can only be achieved if responsible media executives become convinced of their contribution to the stigmatization of ethnic minorities and recognize the necessity of change.
Unfortunately, journalists not even seem willing to examine their procedures seriously and to take relevant research results into consideration. Stigmatizing statements and headlines are often answered by rhetoric questions, such as “is it not true then?” by which exceptional behaviour of an individual Muslim is generalized to a groups’ norm.
Furthermore, Muslim communities themselves can contribute effectively in this regard, especially by strengthening the position of their own media, and establishing new ones. Their media (newspapers, journals and internet fora) which already exist are indispensable, especially because of their orientation on opinions and discussions. The lack of sufficient financial means hinders however their effectiveness on a broader level.
Muslim communities and their benefactors who subsidize the foundation of new mosques, (still) do not realize that financing a newspaper, journal a radio or TV broadcasting station can be more effective in changing the negative image of Islam and in maintaining the religious and cultural identity of young Muslim, than an additional mosque building can achieve.
Regrettably, the above discussed changes will not be realized in the short run. Preference of the media and media consumers as well for gossip journalism will hinder serious changes in the desired direction. News items which the media consider important, depend for a great deal on what is valuated by media consumers and this is in its turn conveyed by the media. The negative attitude towards Islam and Muslims by both is in this regard noticeable and striking. Unfortunately, on the short run this vicious circle can hardly be broken.

Prof.dr. W. Shadid is professor of intercultural communication. For more info: see page “About”