U.S. Media and the Framing of Islam After 9/11 Shelby Grant

Abstract Following 9/11, the media framed Islam only in negative, biased, and prejudiced ways. In turn, viewers have been led to view Islam as violence, extremism, and outright terrorism.

What is Framing? A method of agenda setting by media networks “How pieces of information are selected and organized” (Ryan) Information collected is interpreted through a certain lens– in this case, predominately white Christians.

Islam as Extremism In television: Martin and Phelan’s study of 4.18 million word body of transcripts from five major T.V. news networks. Most used phrases: “Islamic fundamentalists,” “Islamic militants,” “Islamic extremists.”

Islam as Extremism In print: Ervand Abrahamian’s examination of the New York Times This is a Religious War: pictures of atrocities from mediaeval Europe, including Goya’s Spanish Inquisition Bush’s statement: “crusade against terrorism”

Islam as Violence Abrahamian: NYT articles titled “Defusing the Holy Bomb,” “Barbarians at the Gates,” “The Core of Muslim Rage.” Martin and Phelan: “Islamic jihad” one of the most frequently used terms, most often times referring to the physical struggle in a violent form against enemies of Islam.

Islam as Violence Framing leads viewers to believe “violence originates in the irrational psyches of the [Islamic] militants, warped by the tenets and practices of Islam” (Baker).

Islam as Terrorism Extremism + Violence = Terrorism Because terrorism is “shocking and sensational,” it demands attention from viewers when presented in the media “Maximum impact of an act of terrorism comes from widespread media coverage” (Powell)

Inclusion versus Exclusion In framing, what is left out is just as important as what is included Lack of any background other than government or military officials “If people knew [the] history, they wouldn’t just sit and listen” (Zinn)

Inclusion versus Exclusion “The current image of Islam that depicts this pure religion as one that promotes intolerance and disruption in a society is contradictory to Islamic teachings” (Baloach)

Conclusion By framing Islam in a biased manner and including only limited viewpoints, the U.S. media failed to do their job in covering the aftermath of 9/11.