This paper aims to present how Media in Cyprus, France and the Netherlands portray the population of Muslim immigrants. This aspect deals with the terms of nationality, ethnicity and race as to the way they are related to the Muslim immigrants as a social group. Furthermore, this project deals with the way the societies of the three countries construct the identity of Muslim immigrants. Conceptions like nationalism and racism are to be investigated at this part of the project.
For the purposes of the project qualitative methodology will be followed. Specifically, as to the first part of the project as mentioned above, in order to discover the way media portray the Muslims, “Framing Analysis” will be adopted. There will be 8 articles picked for analysis from Cypriot, French and Dutch mainstream media, related to Muslim immigrants. In addition, in order to find out how the societies of the three countries construct the Muslims identity, “Content Analysis” will be used. In particular, 10 comments on mainstream media Facebook pages of each of the three countries mentioned, on posts related to immigration and Muslims will be used for analysis.
Finally, after the entire process of analysis, comparisons between the status of the three countries will be made in order to draw the final conclusion on how Muslim immigrants are percept through society and the media.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Problem Statement
3. Research Questions
4. Methodology
5. Significance of the Study
6. Literature Review
6.1. Media
6.2. Islam
6.3. Immigration
7. Findings and Discussion
7.1. Cyprus
7.2. France
7.3. The Netherlands
8. Conclusion
9. Bibliography
10. Appendix
Objectives and Topics of the Study
This research aims to analyze how mainstream media in Cyprus, France, and the Netherlands portray Muslim immigrants and how these portrayals, combined with social media discourse, shape the construction of their identity. The study investigates the presence of negative framing, the influence of political rhetoric, and the role of public perception in perpetuating stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes.
- Media representation of Muslim immigrants and refugees
- The intersection of immigration, Islam, and terrorism in media discourse
- Comparative analysis of media framing in Cyprus, France, and the Netherlands
- The construction of "Muslim identity" through social media comments
- The prevalence of Islamophobia and its impact on social integration
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
The role of media is to shape opinions and presenting a version as reality. Media are also believed and mostly expected to portray a fair picture on any issues occur both at local and international level. However, the media coverage on Islam and Muslims has reached a peak during recent decades, following the tragic events such as the Al-Qaeda attack of the World Trade Center and Pentagon in 2001, and the London and Madrid bombings in 2004 and 2005 respectively (Ahlin & Carler, 2011: 1). Several researchers such as Zulkifli (2009) and Winegar (2008) found that Global Media tend to negatively depict Islam by associating it with terrorism (Yusof et.al, 2013: 105).
The fact that the ones allegedly responsible about these terrorism actions were all Muslim has been widely acknowledged and emphasized by western media, resulting to devastating consequences on the Muslim identity. An analysis from Gould and Klor (2014) shows that the 9/11 attacks included a backlash against the Muslim community in the US. The same study presents hate crimes on Muslims, which lead to an increased ethnic identity and demographic strength of the Muslim immigrants in the US.
The connection between Islam and terrorism lead to the entrance of Islam in the contemporary news cycle under an Orientalist perspective. As Said (1978) stated, Orientalism can be viewed as a “Western style for dominating, restricting and having authority over the Orient”. As a result, the reality created by media leads to lasting images and stereotypes about Muslims, as they have the ability to set the agenda which in combination with the overload of information in society makes it almost impossible for the people to critique messages on race or culture in any useful way (Kimberly, 2011: 92-93).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of the media's influence on shaping public opinion regarding Muslims, particularly post-2001, and introduces the central themes of Orientalism and framing.
2. Problem Statement: Outlines the persistence of negative stereotypes and the media's tendency to link Islam with terrorism and social hostility.
3. Research Questions: Defines the core inquiries regarding media portrayal, social identity construction, and cross-country comparisons.
4. Methodology: Details the qualitative approach, specifically framing analysis of news articles and content analysis of Facebook comments.
5. Significance of the Study: Discusses the importance of analyzing media framing to understand rising racism and immigration challenges in Europe.
6. Literature Review: Synthesizes existing research on media framing, the perception of Islam, and immigration dynamics in Western societies.
7. Findings and Discussion: Presents the analysis of news media and social media discourse in Cyprus, France, and the Netherlands, highlighting differences in coverage and public reaction.
8. Conclusion: Summarizes findings, noting that media continue to feed negative perceptions and that societal discourse often perpetuates discrimination.
9. Bibliography: Lists the academic sources used to support the research.
10. Appendix: Provides the framework and tools used for the framing analysis and content analysis.
Keywords
Muslim immigrants, Media framing, Islamophobia, Social media, Identity construction, Racism, Terrorism, Cyprus, France, The Netherlands, Qualitative analysis, Integration, Orientalism, Discrimination, News coverage
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The study examines how mainstream media in Cyprus, France, and the Netherlands portray Muslim immigrants and how these portrayals reflect and shape societal perceptions and identities.
What are the central thematic areas?
The core themes include media framing of Islam, the link between immigration and terrorism in news, the rise of online racism, and the comparative reception in the three selected European countries.
What is the main research question?
The research asks how media portray Muslim immigrants, how their identity is constructed on social media, and what the key differences in these processes are between Cyprus, France, and the Netherlands.
Which methodology is applied?
The authors use a qualitative approach, combining "Framing Analysis" for selected news articles and "Content Analysis" for comments on mainstream media Facebook pages.
What does the main body cover?
It covers a theoretical literature review, detailed findings on media narratives per country, and an analysis of Facebook user comments reflecting the public's attitude toward Muslim immigrants.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Muslim immigrants, Media framing, Islamophobia, Social media, Identity construction, Racism, and Cross-cultural comparative analysis.
How does media portrayal impact the Muslim community?
The study finds that media often use negative discursive frames, associating Muslims with terrorism and threats to Western values, which contributes to increased discrimination and societal prejudice.
What is the role of social media in this context?
Social media acts as a platform that mirrors and amplifies the negative sentiments found in mainstream media, frequently allowing for the spread of racist propaganda and the dehumanization of immigrants.
- Quote paper
- Kyriakos Konstanta (Author), Shima Andalibi (Author), Barbara Chevenon (Author), 2018, The Perception of Muslim Immigrants through Society and the Media, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/450833
