Centre for Faith and the Media

Improving the Quantity and Quality
Of Canada's Religious News

Blogs

Richelle Wiseman

How the Western Media Sees Islam (or not)

June 04, 2008

Jerusalem – He is a professor of Islamic Studies at Al Quds University in Jerusalem, and he has s... Read More

On Holy Ground

March 24, 2008

Last week, the Mayor of Vancouver stood on the steps of a downtown Catholic church to make an imp... Read More

Underneath the Helmet Issue

March 07, 2008

It seems the only time we hear about Canada’s Sikh community in the media is when there is ... Read More

Ron Csillag

Brainwashing or simple parenting?

March 24, 2008

Children being raised in a religious environment is a volatile issue, at least to anti-theists. A... Read More

Lord’s Prayer

March 04, 2008

In Ontario’s it’s often the little things that kick up the biggest fuss. This time, i... Read More

Tip:

At long last, the report from Gerard Bouchard and Charles Taylor on reasonable accommodation in Quebec has been released, and provides a wealth of story ideas for reporters covering religion in Canada. For an abridged pdf of the full report, check out this webpage for "Building the Future: A Time for Reconciliation". Bear in mind that the Commission was launched out of concerns in Quebec over Muslim headscarves, Sikh kirpans, and the possibility of sharia law coming to Canada….so the implications of accommodating religious practices, values, traditions and rights are analyzed within the framework of Canadian society and national values. Here is the website:

http://www.accommodements.qc.ca

Article Details

Article Added On: January 13, 2005 - over 3 years ago
Title: Fox TV Accused of Stereotyping American Muslims
Author: Reuters staff
Publication: Reuters/metronews.ca
Publication Date: January 01, 2005 - over 3 years ago
Faith Groups: Muslim
Themes: religion in the media

Abstract: The Fox television network said on Thursday it will provide its stations with TV spots that portray Muslims in a favorable way after it received complaints for featuring followers of Islam as terrorists on its hit television show "24."

Thursday, January 13, 2005

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Fox television network said on Thursday it will provide its stations with TV spots that portray Muslims in a favorable way after it received complaints for featuring followers of Islam as terrorists on its hit television show "24."

On Monday, Fox premiered the fourth season of "24." The drama featured an upper-middle class Muslim family operating as a sleeper terrorist cell. The Muslim mother poisons her son's non-Muslim girlfriend because it was feared the girl could jeopardize the terrorists' plan.

A Fox spokesman said it would provide public service announcements sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations to its affiliate stations. Local television executives can decide if and when to use the spots.

The move was in response to the Islamic council's complaints about the show.

"What we are hoping to do is to try and mitigate the damages of the stereotypes because it can bring real-life consequences on American Muslims and their lives here," said Rabiah Ahmed, spokeswoman for the Islamic group.

Citing a public opinion survey conducted by Cornell University last year, Ahmed said television influences viewers' perceptions of Muslims.

"There aren't any positive or even neutral portrayals of Muslims on TV; whenever Muslims or Arabs are portrayed it is always in a stereotypical way," she said.

"When average Americans don't have any personal interaction with Muslims, whether it be at work or at school, they base their perception of Islam and Muslims from what they see on TV," she added. "We did bring that to Fox's attention."

Original article

Feature