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Sweep2k | 12:23 Wed 14th Nov 2007 | News
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A "torrent" of negative stories has been revealed by a study of the portrayal of Muslims and Islam in the media, according to a report published yesterday.

Research into one week's news coverage showed that 91% of articles in national newspapers about Muslims were negative. The London mayor, Ken Livingstone, who commissioned the study, said the findings were a "damning indictment" of the media and urged editors and programme makers to review the way they portray Muslims.

"The overall picture presented by the media is that Islam is profoundly different from and a threat to the west," he said. "There is a scale of imbalance which no fair-minded person would think is right." Only 4% of the 352 articles studied were positive, he said.

Livingstone said the findings showed a "hostile and scaremongering attitude" towards Islam and likened the coverage to the way the left was attacked by national newspapers in the early 1980s. "The charge is that there are virtually no positive or balanced images of Islam being portrayed," he said. "I think there is a demonisation of Islam going on which damages community relations and creates alarm among Muslims."

Among examples in the study was a report which claimed that Christmas was being banned in one area because it offended Muslims, which researchers said was "inaccurate and alarmist". The report said that Muslims in Britain were sometimes depicted as a threat to traditional British values, and the coverage weakened government attempts to reduce extremism.
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im sure theres a dertain degree of propoganda spread by fascist elements in all levels of society.
wishing to incite hatred and violence no doubt.
Well yeah... I've been saying this for ages. Which just confirms my theory that no one listens to me!
what ??
Maybe if some of them stopped preaching hate, or planting bombs in tube trains killing and maiming innocent people, they may get better press.
I suppose that negative reporting has contributed to the general perception of Islam but I'd imagine the effect of the day to day action of muslims themeselves has more to do with how people feel about them generally, to wit:
- Burning/Killing/ general intolerance of any one who disagrees with them
- Murder of dissenters
- Terrorist atrocities, New York/Madrid/Bali/ London
- mis treatment and mutilation of Women
- So called "Honour" murders
- Refusal to integrate with their chosen home nations
- Tacitly approving the extremists in their midst

I could go on!
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I am not surprised by the result but the 91% looks high.

Someone has had to make a subjective judgement as to whether a news story is positive or negative. That is not always as easy as it might appear. If you were commissioned (by the Mayor) then you would be looking for the negative angle ein every story.

If you go purposely looking for media bias, you often think you have found it when it doesn't exist. The Tories often accuse the BBC of being biased against them, because they are looking for it - but there is non.

I am sure that the Daily Mail account for 56% of the 91% figure.
What muslims do you two know?!

Jesus H Christ, is there a banging your head against a brick wall smiley face round here?!
I wonder how the percentage would come out if the same people surveyed Answerbank?
Loosehead - I come across muslims every day and have never met any who do any of what you suggest above - where do you live, I'd like to avoid the muslims there?
Negatively biased stories in the popular media? Really?
It's normally so full of positive stories isn't it.
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Just one thought does ken livingstone feel as strongly about negative attitudes towards other faiths? in particular jews
So triggerdippy, did I utter an untruth? Get a little close to home did I, toys out of pram!
"The overall picture presented by the media is that Islam is profoundly different from and a threat to the west,"
"The report said that Muslims in Britain were sometimes depicted as a threat to traditional British values"

Well Islam is profoundly different and those that commit the atrocities of recent years follow that faith in one form or another - fact. They are also a potential threat to traditional British values.

Whose Country have they come to settle in? Not their own just yet ! They should be more willing to accept our way of life and not kick up a fuss about removing veils in schools etc. If you were in Spain you would out of respect for the host nation follow the local tradition and put a scarf over your head when entering church etc.

Appeasement got the UK nowhere with the Nazi's before WW2 and it won't either with the Muslims.
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Dassie?
If you were in Spain you would out of respect for the host nation follow the local tradition and put a scarf over your head when entering church etc.

Would you also follow tradtion and throw a donkey of a church roof?

I'm not taking sides, just playing Devil's advocate
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"If you were in Spain you would out of respect for the host nation follow the local tradition and put a scarf over your head when entering church etc."

Or speak English, drink in English theme pubs, watch English TV, set up English expat communities with English shops selling English newspapers surrounded by other English speakers, while moaning about how sh1te the Spanish food is and accusing the locals of being work-shy, greasy rip-off merchants every time they come to fix your shower.

That kind of respect for the host nation, Dassie?
Muslims have been working and living in Britain for decades.

They are absolutely no threat.

Full stop.

I am more likely to be killed by lung cancer or crossing the road. I am unlikely to die in a terrorist atrocity, in the same way that I was unlikely to die in an IRA atrocity in the 70s.

Interestingly, when the IRA had their campaign of violence in the mainland in the 70s, people didn't view all Irishmen as potential terrorists...and I think I have a theory why...

People are getting dumber.

Sorry to say, but they thickos have taken over and their views are taking hold.

I don't know how they've managed it...but they have.
Ok Trigger, just tell me which bit isn't accurate!

Islam brings this on itself by it's total intolerance. You can make an entire film taking the p155 out of christianity and nothing happens. You draw a few cartoons or write a book involving Islam and hey presto they're out on the streets burning things and issuing Fatwa's I just wish they'd lighten up a bit I mean does islam exlcude a sense of humor?

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