6 November 2001
Press Analysis
One of the objectives of the 'Pledge to British Muslims' introduced in Islam Awareness Week is to address the use of inflammatory or discriminatory language in the media.
The MCB has analysed press coverage in a period one week prior, and two weeks after, September 11 to establish the context in which the word 'Islamic' was used.
A summary of this analysis is presented here. It includes the results for one broadsheet, and an overview of the most frequently used phrases
Example - The Daily Telegraph
The usage of the words Islamic and extremism or terrorism (or variations) was in the low single figures in the week ending September 11. However in the next fortnight, their occurrence increased exponentially (see graph above).
Some of the headlines used by this broadsheet are noted below:
New assassins queue for martyrdom (September 13)
Extremists 'are targetting children' (September 15)
Action against bin Laden 'will start holy war' (September 15)
British extremists urge young Muslims to fight against US (September 17)
Britons prepare for poison gas attacks (September 23)
A comparable analysis of other broadsheets is underway.
Most frequently used phrases
The analysis of six broadsheets and tabloids for the three week period also provides an indication of Fleet Street's most popular phrases in articles and news items relating to Islam and Muslims.
These are listed below (most frequently used first):
Islamic fundamentalism/ist
Islamic jihad
Islamic extremism/ist
Islamic terrorism/ist
Islamic militants
Islamic movements
Islamic law
(The press analysis is at a preliminary stage and the findings presented here are subject to
update and review)
