Islam in the News: Persistent yet Changing Characterisations

Abstract

Islam and Muslim people feature regularly in news coverage internationally and in Aotearoa New Zealand. Previous research shows a dominant tendency towards the perpetuation of stereotypes of Muslim people as threats to society. Although such international trends are also evident in news items produced in Aotearoa New Zealand, there are also alternative and more positive depictions. Using Newztext Plus to find 583 New Zealand – produced news items and press releases from the Muslim community for the period 2013 to 2018, this article documents the mediated depiction of Muslim people and Islam, intergroup relations with non-Muslim groups, and the range of contemporary issues that were covered. Findings are presented in three interrelated sections: (1) positive and inclusive depictions evident through the lens of peace, tolerance, and inclusivity; (2) persistently negative stereotypes through the lens of violence and terrorism; (3) the contestation of negative depictions by Muslim leaders and inter-faith allies. This article sets the groundwork to foreground some of the complexities around positive and negative depictions of Islam in news coverage leading up to the Christchurch terror attacks. Future research will explore if and how depictions change in light of the events of March 15, 2019.