That’s Not Me! Misrepresentation in the Australian Media.

A few weeks ago I was walking through Target in the Westfield Carousel shopping centre with my sisters, searching for a gift for my little brother. Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, was just a few days away from ending. Kids were starting to count the nights to Eid, the Islamic equivalent of Christmas. I stopped in an aisle, listening to my sisters bickering as to whether Lego or a remote control car would be better, when this woman stopped behind us. She had enough room to go around, but I stepped back anyway to let her pass. Instead of moving past us she glared at me before swearing and marching off.

“Islamic weirdoes.” I heard her mutter as she turns the corner, followed by another string of expletives. I wanted to run after her, ask why she said that, what reason there was to be so hostile to my sisters and I when we weren’t doing anything offensive. But I didn’t move. As sad as it seems, I’m used to it. Because even though my family and I are Australians by birth and British by decent, we risk stares, glowers and verbal abuse every time we step outside our front door, just because we are Muslim. In a country that celebrates multi-culturism, cultural intolerance is seemingly rampant.

According to Australia’s 2011 census, only 1.7 per cent of our population is Muslim. 38 per cent of those Muslims were born in Australia. Despite their minority status, Muslims form a regular presence in our media, the majority of such coverage framed in a negative light. This constant negative representation affects communities all over Australia, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.

Terrorist. Hijab. Indonesia. Foreign.

These four words were the most commonly specified words in a recent nation-wide survey where Australians were asked to supply words that they immediately think of when they hear terms relating to Muslims or Islam. When another survey, this time aimed at Muslims living in Australia, asked what were some words they would use to describe Australians, again a clear pattern emerged, certain words consistently appearing.

Multicultural. Intolerant. Laidback. Mis-informed.

The key word here, I think, is mis-informed. If we look at media portrayal of Muslims, they are very particular in their representation. When asked how she felt about the media’s representation on Muslims one participant stated, “I feel frustrated, angry and embarrassed. The media reports in a headline attention grabbing way that stirs emotion, making the viewer feel personally threatened. They don’t seem to report the same way when Muslims are not involved.”

Stories revolving around Muslim communities commonly focus on the negative. They also often place emphasis on the differences between these groups and Australian culture. Unfortunately, as Michael Usher from 60 Minutes stated in a 2011 story covering Sharia law in Australia: “Nothing divides opinion like multiculturalism.” However, Australia is made up out of multiple cultures. It is not something we can ignore any longer.

Jan Bell, school teacher and educationalist, has interacted with many people who have followed various belief systems. In our interview she explained why some people are so indisposed to question what they hear in the media, “The mainly uneducated and poorly read population believe what they hear, don’t bother to evaluate the real truth behind the news and are eager to spread the word. Others investigate the truth behind what they hear, evaluate facts from misinformation spread by the media and come to their own conclusions. Unfortunately, these conclusions are often built with a foundation in stereotypes.”

A stereotype is classified as ‘to categorise’ or ‘identify’ something. Barney Zwartz from the Sydney Morning Herald has stated, “When Muslims complain that the media stereotypes them and provides false perceptions, I say that sadly this is true. We [the media] stereotype everyone.”

In an interview with John Dobson from the Weekend Courier I asked if he agreed with this assessment. “Stereotyping is commonplace in the media, it is something that needs to be changed,” he responded. “Minority groups in particular are often stereotyped, only making the headlines when there is conflict involving them.”

The media holds a huge position of power over the Australian people in the way they are able to sway opinions and form perspectives. One perspective that they continuously reinforce is the separation between ‘us’ and ‘them’.

“Most Australians fear, all that is the unknown and the different,” stated Jan Bell, before outlining cases in history where Australian’s shunned and held stereotypical views on nations like the Japanese, Italians and Greeks. “Aussies had a very narrow world view and lived isolated and sheltered lives unlike in Europe where other countries surrounded you and impacted lives. This lack of accepting differences was apparent across all aspects of life including politics and religion and even footy teams. As a young child in Melbourne I remember going to the footy. All the fans from the one team were on one side of the oval; and the other team on the other. You didn’t get mixed up with the other team or you would get your head belted in… Aussies didn’t like new or different, so they didn’t listen.”

She goes on to say that times have improved: “Our multicultural nation has changed and the diverse cultures and different people have become part of our community… There was a lot to gain, especially on the food side. The richness of our food has increased amazingly, even through my lifetime.”

In the survey, 78 per cent of non-Muslim Australians acknowledged that media representations had altered their perspective in regards to Muslims, but only 7 per cent said that they believed that the media’s coverage was accurate. These results lead us to believe that though viewers acknowledge that representations are wrong, they still impact their perspective because they have nothing else to base their views upon.

Traditionally, Muslims are portrayed in the media as not being ‘Australian’. The media cultivates this sense of unfamiliarity between cultures in the forms of poor choices in interview subjects, such as Islamic extremist Anjem Choudary who features often in the media, thereby presenting a negative role model for people to form opinions by. The media also uses subtle context to further heighten the sense of distress in viewers, such as in a recent story coverage by 60 Minutes where the reporter discussed a ‘new form of terrorism’ whilst casually strolling down a heavily Muslim populated street.

“It makes me feel that they are not accurately portraying the average Muslim,” one young participant stated when asked in the survey what she thought of the media’s choice of Muslim representatives. “It’s upsetting and frustrating that the media looks at and seeks out extremist or non-practising Muslims to interview and tells people ‘this is the norm’.”

One such chosen interviewee is Anjem Choudary, former spokesperson for Islam4UK and self-proclaimed extremist, regularly features in UK and Australian news. The statements he makes in the name of Islam angers non-Muslims and Muslims alike. Still, he continuously appears as a spokesperson of Muslims living in the Western World, and despite the growing anger and discomfort of both Muslim and non-Muslim viewers, the media continue to allow it.

A British Muslim by the name of Muhammad Ali has had enough of the media’s tolerance for such speech. Three months ago he started a petition, asking Britain’s press corporations, journalists, writers and producers to stop providing Anjem Chaudary with a platform from which to speak. “He neither speaks for us, nor does he have any authenticity to speak about Islam or the British Muslim experience,” his statement declares. “We ask journalists to take a more proactive and a more responsible stance when it comes to representation of other communities. Giving the platform to Anjem and his Un-Merry Band of Attention Seekers only fuels hate and Islamophobia.”

Indeed, further results of the survey reveal that 65 per cent of Muslims fear harm may come to them or their families due to media representations, though this number fluctuates with every new media story featuring Muslims. Only 42 per cent of survey participants declared that they felt Muslims were welcome in Australia.

“It makes me feel as though we are not recognised by our country,” a participant commented. “I want to know that no matter what happens in other parts of the world that the Government will proudly identify us as Australian Muslims and not let any harm come to us.”

The terrorist attack of 9/11 and subsequent media inflation of the event challenged the Australian perspective towards Muslims. As Jan Bell explained, Australia as a country has always had a fear of invasion. This fear develops from a need to preserve our standard of living. Minority groups will only reach national headlines it provides emotional value to the story and attracts the attention of the viewers. As a result, minority groups such as the Muslim community only feature in the media in times of conflict and turmoil. Sometimes however, it works in the opposite way; stories dealing with minority groups aren’t reported in the media due to stereotypical views of it being ‘the norm’.

John Dobson rationalised this by relating an example where the media skipped over an important story. “Recently in WA, a young Aboriginal man was charged with murder for brutally bashing his partner to death in a northern WA township. His partner was young, about 17-21 from memory. This story received minimal coverage. Compare that to the murder of Dawesville teenager Jesse Cate or the Melbourne murder of Jill Meagher. Both were young Caucasian women, the stories made national headlines. It seemed to me that the media believed that the case involving a young Aboriginal man was probably common place in remote communities where alcohol and drug abuse is common.”

This story did not provide the sensation media outlets look for in a story. It simply complemented the stereotypes Aboriginal communities face.

As Jalal Fussell, prominent business owner and multicultural employer stated, “News thrives on fear. If the audience is naive to the truths they wait for more info; even if it is false.” Misunderstandings between Australian’s and minority groups such as Muslim communities are often due to a lack of familiarity with each other and a fear of the unknown.

It should be the media’s responsibility to introduce these minority groups to the nation as a large, and should encourage assimilation and positivity between cultures. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen.

“Good aspects about most cultures don’t make big news sales so they are not sought after.” Jan Bell clarified, “If there was a good news story and a disaster came along, it [the good news story] would be bumped. As the saying goes, ‘bad news travels fast’, and editors want to maximise their sales.”

There’s another issue with writing good news, you need to find a willing party to build the story with. As John Dobson stated, some community newspapers such as the Weekend Courier that have attempted to present a positive story on Muslim communities have struggled to effectively connect with Muslim communities. Many Muslims do not want to appear or feature in a news story due to a fear of a negative response.

“Most fear being mis-quoted or made to look ignorant,” Jalal Fussell explained, “Mis-representation is a major fault of the media, but not just for Muslims.” Many other minority groups are often mis-represented or ignored by the media.

John Dobson commented on this, “Often the only articles about the Muslim community will unfortunately focus on terrorist cells or whether the Burqa should be allowed to be worn in public while there are only a minority of stories that would show the Muslim community in a positive light. There is a problem with mainstream media and its treatment of minority groups. The media could do so much more to influence public perception of Muslims. The same is the case for the Aboriginal community and African communities, particularly the Sudanese.”

In such a multicultural country, minority groups are a common phenomenon. Media’s coverage of these groups is often framed in a negative light. Though there are some cases of positive representation, such as an occasional story in the newspaper about a Muslim that has done something good for the community. There are also strong spokespersons and role models for Australian Muslims, such as AFL player Bachar Houli and Human Activist Sabah Hadid.

Unfortunately, these symbols of positive representation are few and far between. More effort needs to be made by the media to present a more realistic image of Muslims living in Australia. Interviewees need to be re-considered. Do the people contribute the story at hand realistically, or are they feeding social stereotypes and breeding fear? As Jan Bell stated, “they need to provide a more balanced point of view to improve people’s current uneducated perspectives.” Jalal Fussell expands on this declaring, “The media could show Muslim’s as a beneficial part of the community, rather than presenting them as a separate group.”

Jan Bell explains how beneficial a positive change in media coverage could be. “Australian people are very accepting, so long as they know and understand who and what they are dealing with. Fear of the unknown and ongoing portrayal of negative activities by extremists does nothing to assist it [cultural familiarity] to develop any faster.”

98 per cent of Muslims and 79 per cent of non-Muslims that partook in the survey stated in the affirmative when asked if they believe an understanding between Muslims and Australians can be reached. 87 per cent of Muslims and 78 per cent of non-Muslims stated that they would be willing to participate in a program to assist minority groups to assimilate better with the Australian public.

So how can Muslims help build trust and familiarity between cultures?

“Be more transparent,” Jalal Fussell stated. “And less secretive. We have an open, progressive society. We [Muslims] should show the accepting nature of Islam and be kind, not hostile and fearful of scrutiny.”

Jan Bell also stated that early education is a crucial part of breaking down barriers. A lot of world views are formed as children so segregating the children into different schools, Islamic and non-Islamic, helps to reinforce that sense of otherness. She also said that people need to point out the similarities rather than the differences, such as in the Qur’an and Old Testament.

The most important thing to keep in mind, she said, was that “all people have the right to have different beliefs.” No one should impose their beliefs onto others. This is something both Muslims and non-Muslims should consider when dealing with people of different belief systems.

Some ways the Australian public can assist further assimilation and better relations is by not believing everything they see. Listen and research over making assumptions. Ask questions. Give second chances. As the saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover.

In a world where everything is at our fingertips and little information is kept secret, perhaps it is not distaste or racism that separates the worlds of Muslims and non-Muslims. Perhaps it’s not hatred at all. In a world where everything is supposed to be understood, Muslims provide a situation of unfamiliarity, one Australian culture cannot explain.

The idea of assimilating our cultures is not so far-fetched. To free our lives of the fear that comes with mystery, an understanding needs to be fashioned. Nothing looks as scary after it grows familiar. In fact, get close enough and it could almost look like home.