“Islam” and Muslims in the Media
Disclaimer: This article is an English-language adaptation of the original German post “Der Islam und Muslim*innen in den Medien” (July 2024), which appears on the MEDIA SERVICE INTEGRATION website. The purpose of this translation is to make the key findings and resources accessible to a broader international audience.
Media coverage of Islam and Muslims has long been a topic of concern, with many studies pointing to recurring patterns of bias and stereotyping. Despite growing awareness, negative and simplistic portrayals remain common in journalistic narratives across the Western world.
A Consistent Pattern of Negative Representation
In 2016, a long-term study by Media Tenor International revealed that over three-quarters of all media reports on Islam and Muslims presented a negative image. These findings are not isolated—earlier studies had documented similar trends.
The media follows the agenda of militias and terrorists. “The scenes change, but the message has remained the same for years: terrorism and war are the dominant themes in reporting on Muslims,” explains Dr. Christian Kolmer, Head of Political Analysis at Media Tenor International.
However, this does not imply that the media is overtly Islamophobic or always explicitly hostile. As Tim Karis from the Center for Religious Studies (CERES) points out, the issue often lies in subtle, recurring themes and the reliance on stereotypical imagery of Islam. Source
Post-9/11 and the Rise of Stereotypes
Several key moments in recent history have intensified this skewed coverage:
- After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Islam was frequently associated with terrorism and framed as a “threat” to Western societies.
- During and after the so-called refugee crisis of 2015, German media often linked refugees with Islam, portraying Muslim refugees as culturally incompatible with a supposed “European Christian culture.” This conclusion is drawn from a 2018 comparative study on German and British press narratives.
Muslim Men and Women: Gendered Stereotypes
Media portrayals tend to cast Muslim male migrants as a threat or societal problem. A 2019 study reinforced this finding, and a 2016 analysis described Muslims in German newspapers as a problematic, different, threatening, and homogeneous group.
Meanwhile, Muslim women are often presented through an orientalist lens—as backward or culturally alien. Numerous analyses highlight the persistence of this narrative.
The Power of Visual Representation
It’s not just words—images play a critical role in shaping perceptions. Scholars Sabrina Schmidt and Kai Hafez have observed that media coverage of Islamic topics is often accompanied by symbolic images like:
- Fully veiled women
- Armed Islamists
- Anonymous crowds in Mecca
The headscarf is frequently used as a visual shorthand, reinforcing a narrow view of Muslim identity. Rather than showcasing the diversity of Muslim life, these images contribute to anonymization, homogenization, and dehumanization.
The article highlights two things:
first , how anti-Muslim Islam narratives are continuously reproduced in (some) media discourses, with these narratives becoming more pronounced on the right-wing spectrum and supported by the latent racism of the conservative-liberal milieu.
Second , it shows how anti-racist, migrant, and Muslim voices are interfering in the public struggles over interpretations of Islam, using the media as mouthpieces and representative bodies. (Hafez & Schmidt, 2020)
Also read > Rethinking Democracy: An Open Letter to Right-Wing Populist Parties
Rethinking Media Practices: Toward Balanced Reporting
There are promising efforts to change the narrative:
- Photojournalist Julius Matuschik launched the blog “Moin und Salam” to document the diversity of Muslim life in Germany, challenging one-sided photojournalism.
- The MEDIA SERVICE INTEGRATION offers practical guidance for journalists seeking more balanced coverage. This includes two detailed information papers on Muslim civil society and Islamic associations in Germany, with background context and contacts for further research.
- Their comprehensive handbook “Muslims in the Media” offers in-depth resources for understanding and improving media coverage.
Conclusion:
To move beyond stereotypes, the media must go beyond token representation and engage with the real, diverse experiences of Muslims. This means not only rethinking language and visuals but also including Muslim voices in the storytelling process. Balanced reporting is not just better journalism—it’s essential for fostering mutual understanding in increasingly diverse societies.
The Social Insight