London Mayor calls for press to rethink Islam

From: http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=1163

By: Michael Zera.

A NEW survey commissioned by the London Mayor has concluded that the media sees no common ground between Islam and the West, and that conflict between them is ‘inevitable’.
The survey commissioned by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and published by London mayor Ken Livingstone this week also suggested that news organizations draw up new codes of conduct to combat negativity about Islam.The GLA survey included a review of recent opinion polls, study of recent books and articles, a survey of the news in one week, consideration of stories about political correctness, interviews with Muslim journalists, and analysis of a TV documentary, took place between May 1, 2006 and April 30, 2007.One of the questions asked if the media promote informed debate about the building and maintenance of Britain as a multicultural society. It also asked how community-sensitive is media reporting about multiculturalism and British Muslim identities. But perhaps the central question examined was whether media coverage hinders or promotes mutual understanding.Other findings in the survey were that Muslims are depicted as a threat to traditional British customs, values and ways of life, alternative worldviews, understandings and opinions are not mentioned or are not given a fair hearing, and facts are frequently distorted, exaggerated or oversimplified. The study suggests possible recommendations, which consist of: News organisations should review their coverage of issues and events involving Muslims and Islam, and should consider drawing up codes of professional conduct and style guides about use of terminology,News organisations should take measures, perhaps within the framework of positive action in equalities legislation, to recruit more journalists of Muslim heritage who can more accurately reflect the views and experiences of Muslim communities,News organisations should also consider how best to give Muslim staff appropriate professional support and to prevent them being pigeon-holed as specialists in minority issues rather than concerned with the full spectrum of an organisation’s output.

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