US TV Primetime News prefer stereotypes: Muslims framed

US TV Primetime News prefer stereotypes:

Muslims framed mostly as criminals

- Coverage of Islam dropped after 2010 - Tonality deteriorated and reached a new low in 2013

- Islam is primarily shown as source of violence - US TV worse than BBC or other international Networks

News Analysis of U.S. TV news and international business papers 2007-2013

Exclusive Study celebrating 20 years ACMCU Georgetown University

2

Islam on U.S. TV: The long-term view 2007-2013

Islam on U.S. TV.: Details 2013

Islam in international business papers 2012/2013

The Catholic Church on international TV news 2013

3

0

200

400

600

800

1 000

1 200

1 400

1 600

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Number of reports about Muslims, Muslim religious leaders and Muslim organizations

Over the last three years coverage of Islam, Muslims and Islamic organizations has

decreased notably, as U.S. troops have left Iraq and the retreat from Afghanistan has as

well led to a lower level of involvement.

Islam less prominent on U.S. TV screens

Islam on U.S. TV news 4/2007-10/2013

Visibility of Islam on ABC, CBS and NBC news

Basis: 6,985 reports (at least 5 lines) on ABC, CBS and NBC news

4

-90%

-80%

-70%

-60%

-50%

-40%

-30%

-20%

-10%

0%

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Tone of coverage of Muslims, Muslim religious leaders and Muslim organizations

Less coverage generally very often leads to more negativity as the awareness of journalists

for positive aspects decreases. Bad news on the other side regularly has a higher news value

– especially for TV journalists.

But the tone became more negative


Tone of coverage of Islam on ABC, CBS and NBC news


5

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Share of all reports about Muslims, Muslim religious leaders and Muslim organizations focusing on the U.S.

Even more striking is the decreasing trend concerning the coverage of American Muslims.

The Boston bombings thus did not generate more coverage of Islam in the U.S. on ABC, CBS

and NBC news.

Domestic perspective fades after 2010


Salience of the U.S. as location on reports about Islam on ABC, CBS and NBC news


6

-80%

-70%

-60%

-50%

-40%

-30%

-20%

-10%

0%

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Tone of coverage of Muslims, Muslim religious leaders and Muslim organizations

In a domestic perspective the decreasing media interest in Islam is even more damaging.

The tone of coverage of Muslims with regards to the U.S. hit another low in 2013. On

balance three in four reports painted a negative image.

Coverage of American Muslims gets worse and worse


Tone of coverage of Islam with regard to the U.S. on ABC, CBS and NBC news


7

-100%

-90%

-80%

-70%

-60%

-50%

-40%

-30%

-20%

-10%

0%

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Tone of coverage of Muslims, Muslim religiousleaders and Muslim organizations

Far away from balanced news – Swiss Muslims don’t show up

Islam on international TV news, 2007-2013

Tone of coverage of Islam in domestic coverage: U.S., UK, Germany, Switzerland

Basis: 921 / 2,517 / 1,750 / 637 reports

-100%

-90%

-80%

-70%

-60%

-50%

-40%

-30%

-20%

-10%

0%

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

-100%

-90%

-80%

-70%

-60%

-50%

-40%

-30%

-20%

-10%

0%

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

-100%

-90%

-80%

-70%

-60%

-50%

-40%

-30%

-20%

-10%

0%

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

8





9

Islam50%

Christianity47%

Judaism1%

other2%

The change at the helm of the Catholic Church drove coverage of Christianity in 2013. But

Islam nevertheless continued to dominate coverage of religion on U.S. TV news. There were

barely any positive news about Muslims at all.

More coverage of Christianity than usual

Islam on U.S. TV news 1-10/2013

Visibility and tone of coverage of religions on CBS, NBC and FOX news

Basis: 43,873 reports (at least 5 lines) about protagonists on CBS, NBC and FOX news / 1,443 about religious protagonists

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Christianity

Islam

Judaism

other

negative no clear tone positive

10

The comparison of the three programs of FOX, CBS and NBC is skewed by the different

duration of the shows. Nevertheless, FOX news showed a less marked focus on bad news

about Muslims than CBS and NBC.

FOX took a less negative stance than the networks


Visibility and tone of coverage of Islam on CBS, NBC and FOX news

Basis: 716 reports (at least 5 lines) about Muslim protagonists on CBS, NBC and FOX news

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

FOX

CBS

NBC

negative no clear tone positive0 100 200 300 400

FOX

CBS

NBC

Number of reportsabout Muslims,Muslim religiousleaders and Muslimorganizations

11

For years Islam has been portrayed as a security risk in the first line. Religious life, Islamic

holidays or the social role of Muslims did not rank among the top issues in the news about

Islam.

Terrorists shape the image of Islam


Visibility and tone of coverage of Islam on CBS, NBC and FOX news: Topics and protagonists

Basis: 716 reports (at least 5 lines) about Muslim protagonists on CBS, NBC and FOX news

0 100 200 300

Al-Qaeda

Morsy

Muslim Brotherhood

Taliban

Islamic Armed Groups

Muslims in general

Islam in general

Islamic fundamentalists

Shias

Sunnis

Islamic organizations in general

Al-Nusra


0 50 100 150 200

International terrorism

International conflicts

Political unrest

Domestic terrorism

Civil war

Role in organization

Religious terrorism

Scandals

Social unrest

Rel. w. state

Court cases

Air strikes

Domestic security

Rel. w. society

Domestic policy


12





13

Islam66%

Christianity29%

Judaism1%

other4%

Three leading business papers from the UK, the U.S. and France focused even more strongly

on Islam the TV news – although the elections of Pope Francis took place during the period

of analysis.

Business papers show a more balanced attitude towards Islam

Islam in FT, WSJ and Les Echos, 7/2012-6/2013

Visibility and tone of coverage of religions

Basis: 359,729 reports (at least 5 lines) about protagonists / 3,002 about religious protagonists

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Christianity

Islam

Judaism

other


14

While FT and Les Echos devoted only limited coverage to Muslims and Islam, the WSJ

covered Islam in more depth. Although negativity was not as marked as on TV, coverage of

Islam was characterized by a lack of good news as well.

WSJ has a much stronger focus on Islam than other papers


Visibility and tone of coverage of Islam in comparison

Basis: 1.510 reports (at least 5 lines) about Muslim protagonists

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

WSJ

FT

Les Echos

negative no clear tone positive0 500 1 000 1 500

WSJ

FT

Les Echos

Number of reportsabout Muslims,Muslim religiousleaders and Muslimorganizations

15

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Jul-12 Sep-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 Mar-13 May-13

Number of reports about Muslims, Muslim religiousleaders and Muslim organizations

Reporting about Islam soared since the beginning of 2013 when the events in Egypt became

more critical. The disappointment about the end of the “Arab Spring” and rising fears about

a jihadist involvement in Syria shaped reporting.

Egyptian crisis drove reporting in 2013

-40%

-35%

-30%

-25%

-20%

-15%

-10%

-5%

0%

Jul-12 Sep-12 Nov-12 Jan-13 Mar-13 May-13

Tone of coverage of Muslims, Muslim religiousleaders and Muslim organizations


Visibility and tone of coverage of Islam in comparison


16

While the WSJ offers at least some space to the views of Islamic organizations, overall

coverage of the Muslim World has been determined by the security perspective as well. The

business papers reported Al-Qaeda and the Taliban as a resurging force.

Religious and social life widely absent from the reports

0 100 200 300 400 500

Al-Qaeda

Taliban

Morsy

Muslim Brotherhood

Muslims in general

Shias

Sunnis

Sunni groups

Muslim organisations in general

Al-Nusra

Shia groups

Boko Haram

Fundamentalists

Islam in general

Salafist Jihadists


0 50 100 150 200 250

Terrorism

International conflicts

Organizations: Operations

PR/Image

Research

Rel. W. other religions

Assassinations

International terrorism

Finances

Organizations: Research

Civil war

Rel. W. politicians

Domestic policy

Political unrest

Pol. Parties: Internal affairs

Religion in general

Religious terrorism

Role in organization



Visibility and tone of coverage of Islam in comparison: Topics and protagonists


17





18

German TV focuses more intensively on the resignation of the German Pope, but the new

scandal involving the Bishop of the German diocese of Limburg generated as well a string of

bad news.

German TV devotes more time to the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church on German, UK and U.S. TV, 1-10/2013

Visibility and tone of coverage of the Catholic Church in comparison

Basis: 3,203 reports about Catholic protagonists

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Germany

US

UK

negative no clear tone positive0 500 1 000 1 500 2 000

Germany

US

UK

Number of reportsabout Catholicprotagonists

19

0

200

400

600

800

1 000

1 200

1 400

Jan-13 Mar-13 May-13 Jul-13 Sep-13

Number of reports

The Catholic Church still did not manage to develop a sustainable media presence on TV

screens. After the election of Pope Francis coverage dropped dramatically – and rose only in

Autumn when another scandal broke.

The charisma of Pope Francis is not sufficient

-70%

-60%

-50%

-40%

-30%

-20%

-10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

Jan-13 Mar-13 May-13 Jul-13 Sep-13

Tone of coverage of Catholic protagonists


Visibility and tone of coverage of the Catholic Church: Timeline


20

Not only the new Pope, but as well the outgoing Pope were covered rather positively, as

were the Catholic faithful. But the image of the Catholic Church suffered especially in

Germany from the scandal around the “Bling-bling Bishop” of Limburg.

The organization remains under pressure

0 200 400 600 800

Pope Francis

Vatican

Catholic Church

Pope Benedict

Catholics

Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst

Diocesis of Linburg

German Bishop's Conference

Catholicism

Robert Zollitsch

Timothy Dolan

Keefe O'Brien

Federico Lombardi

John Paul II.


0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Leadership of the Church

Role in the Church

Administration

Religion in general

Religious practice

Scandals

Rel. W. society

Image

Personality

Resignation

Holidays

Reputation

Rel. Doctrine

Pol. Investigation

Finances



Visibility and tone of coverage of Catholic Church in comparison: Topics and protagonists


21

A great host of Muslim leaders is mentioned in the news, but none of them reached

significant coverage in Western news programs – apart from the political leader of the

Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

Muslim leaders remain no-names

0 200 400 600 800

Mohammed MorsiAyatollah Khomeini

Mohamed el-BeltagyGehad El HaddadAnwar Al-AwlakiAdnan RasheedMona Al Qazzaz

Saeed AbediniPierre VogelJulie Siddiqi

Muhammad Tahirul QadriMullah Nazir

Ibrahim HabibMahmoud Ezzat

Kamal el-HelbawyAbdullah bin Bayyah

Naseem BajwaMohammed Bader

Mullah AzizMohammed al-Buti

Mohammed al-TayebRahman al-Barr

Riaz AhmedShams Ad-Duha Muhammad

George Abu Zakhem


0 200 400 600 800

Pope Francis

Pope Benedict

Bischop Tebartz-van Elst

Bishop Zollitsch

Archbishop O'Brien

Archbishop Dolan

Federico Lombardi

Pope John Paul II

Archbishop Scola

Archbishop Meisner

Archbishop O'Malley

Archbishop Mahony

Archbishop Marx

Archbishop Scherer

Father Thomas Rosica


Religious leaders on U.S., UK and German TV news, 1-10/2013

Visibility and tone of coverage of Catholic and Muslim religious leaders

Basis: 1,608 reports about religious leaders in 12 U.S., UK and German TV news programs

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US TV Primetime News prefer stereotypes: Muslims framed