Islamophobia is on the rise Islam and Muslims Regulators Attacks against Muslims are increasing and correlate in the Media & their codes t with negative perceptions of Islam and Muslims. n t u “For every one moderate Print media i k Studies show a correlation between negative media output, far-right extremism, and l Print media is currently regulated o negative perceptions of Islam and Muslims. This guide is designed to help you promote o Muslim mentioned, 21 by the IPSO (Independent Press o c t r a fair, balanced and representative portrayal of Islam and Muslims in the British media. Standards Organisation) under the ‘Editors’ g examples of extremist c u 21:1 Code of Practice’. While a Royal n i a Charter has been sealed to usher r o Muslims are mentioned o t Dozens of women who in a new press regulatory system, i o wear the headscarf have Islamophobic incidents and in the British press" the IPSO remains the extant n g t o been physically or Hate crimes in London alone. regulator. The IPSO’s jurisdiction m P.J. Baker et al. (2013). Discourse analysis and media attitudes: the representation of n verbally abused. extends to cover online editions of a Islam in the British press. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) i Metropolitan Police Service (2013 - 2014) a i newspapers and magazines. We i d 495 d have listed clauses 1 and 12 e d l below, which are most relevant to m e o 45% the Muslim community, but be sure e rise in religious hate crime to review the entire code which is h in England and Wales, H m T 2013-2014. available online at: What can you do? www.ipso.co.uk/IPSO/makeacomplaint.html ii) Details of an individual’s race, colour, Muslim graves in Select clauses from the IPSO religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental Cemeteries across the Editors’ Code of Practice illness or disability must be avoided unless UK have been Step 1 Get informed genuinely relevant to the story. desecrated. Clause 1: Accuracy i) The Press must take care not to Broadcast media Read the press. Invest at least 30 minutes twice a Share and comment…on any content with family, publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted week to read or watch the news. We have provided friends and on social networks where you think the Complain first to Ofcom if you see something information, including pictures. broadcast on TV or radio that you think has information on print and broadcast media ownership story merits wider interest or response. It is vital that breached the broadcasting code. You may and audience size overleaf to help you assess its you contribute a Muslim perspective on the content ii) A significant inaccuracy, misleading Only 1 in 4 people in Britain statement or distortion once recognised wish to also send a letter to the broadcaster; reach and influence. Please bookmark these pages you encounter. however, a letter to Ofcom is much more feel positively about Islam (BSA, 2010) must be corrected, promptly and with due on your computer for regular reading. Make sure that prominence, and - where appropriate - an important! you read a variety of sources so you learn to identitfy 44% of people apology published. In cases involving the The BBC, although regulated by Ofcom in differing angles on the same story. think there Commission, prominence should be agreed virtually all areas, regulates itself when it with the IPSO in advance. comes to due accuracy and due impartiality in are too many Clause 12: Discrimination news content. Therefore, if your complaint Muslims i) The Press must avoid prejudicial or relates to this, then view the BBC code below in Britain. pejorative reference to an individual’s race, or available at: Step 2 Apply the code colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/w hen Andreas Zick, Beate Küpper, to any physical or mental illness or disability. formulating your complaint. Andreas Hövermann, (2011). Intolerance, Prejudice, and No matter how much you may dislike what you read or contravened. Remember, newspapers, television Discrimination: A European see in the media, an effective complaint requires you and radio have different regulators so make sure Key clauses from the Ofcom and BBC codes are listed in the box below: Report. (Berlin: Freidrich Ebert Stiftung.) to demonstrate a valid breach of the code by which you address your complaint to the right Key clauses from Ofcom code Key clauses from BBC content is regulated. Therefore, the starting point is to regulatory body. All the regulators complaints’ 4. Religion Editorial Guidelines know the relevant clause of the code/s (key ones addresses are to the right too. 5. Due Impartiality and Due 3. Accuracy are provided on the right) which you feel has been Accurac y and Undue Prominence 4. Impartiality of Views and Opinions 6. Fairness, Contributors and Consent 7. Fairness 11. War, Terror and Emergencies 12. Religion Muslim engagement Find the code at: Step 3 www.stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/ Find the code at: & development broadcasting/broadcast-codes/ www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/g uidelines You must complain to the correct regulator when you In your letter, reference the headline, date of Contact Ofcom with a complaint: Contact the BBC with a complaint: @@mmeenndcuokmmunity read or see something that you think has breached publication, newspaper title and the name of the www.consumers.ofcom.org.uk/tell-us/tv-and-radio www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complain-online the relevant code. Newspapers, both print and online author. For TV output, also include the time and Ofcom, Riverside House Address editions, are regulated by IPSO (Independent Press channel of the broadcast. State clearly which clauses 2a Southwark Bridge Road BBC Complaints mendcommunity Standards Organisation) for broadcast media, eg. SKY, ITV, of the relevant regulator’s code that the media has, in London SE1 9HA PO Box 1922, Darlington DL3 0UR or Channel 4, Ofcom is the right place to direct your your view, contravened and how. The details of all the T: 0300 123 3333 T: 03700 100 222 complaint. Ofcom regulates BBC output in all areas regulators and the key components of their codes are T 020 7871 8430 except ‘due impartiality’ and ‘due accuracy’. If your listed in the next section on the right. Examples and [email protected] complaint concerns these two respective areas, templates of complaints letters can be found on our Online media www.mend.org.uk address your complaint to the BBC. website, www.mend.org.uk. Feel free to send your Anti-Muslim abuse and incitement to racial or religious hatred on the internet or social media complaint to the journalist or channel as well as the platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, should be reported to the internet service provider regulator. Overleaf you will find contact details for key or the police by dialling 101. The Crown Prosecu tion Service deals with cases of online abuse media sources. reported to the police and prosecutes individuals where a breach of the law has occurred. It can be St Brides Chambers, 8 Salisbury helpful to establish a presence with a free profile on Twitter and/or Facebook, Court, London EC4Y 8AA at www.twitter.com and www.facebook.com See overleaf for media ownership and circulation data MEND_ToolKit: 19/02/15 Page 2 Media Ownership News International Northern & Shell Trinity Mirror plc Guardian Media Lebedev Holdings & Circulation Data News UK is a subsidiary of News Media Group Trinity Mirror is one of the UK’s largest Group Lebedev Holdings, which is majority - Corporation. It is the parent company of publishers active in national and regional owned by Evgeny Lebedev, publishes the publishers of The Sun and The Times, Northern & Shell is owned by Richard news services. Trinity Mirror publishes a The Scott Trust is the sole shareholder in The Independent, i, and the London BBC and owns the satellite broadcaster, Sky. Desmond and runs Express Newspapers, number of widely read national and the Guardian Media Group, created in Evening Standard. The Independent is a News Corporation is a major international which prints the Express and Star titles. regional newspapers. 1936 to “safeguard the journalistic broadsheet newspaper and the London The BBC is a public service media conglomerate based in the United Northern & Shell also publishes freedom and liberal values of the Evening Standard is a London-based broadcaster that operates under a States, and Rupert Murdoch is the magazines including OK! and owns Guardian” newspaper. In addition, GMG freesheet. Royal Charter and by license and founder and majority shareholder. Channel 5. has subsidiaries in UK radio and agreement from the Culture Secretary. publishing, including Smooth Radio, Real Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror In addition to providing news and Radio, and Real Radio XS and Seven www.mirror.co.uk Publishing. entertainment in the UK, the BBC Daily Express and Sunday Express Readership: 2,775,000 / 2,796,000 The Independent and also operates the BBC World Service. www.express.co.uk (Sunday) Online readership: 480,000 The Independent on Sunday The BBC is a world leader in news, Readership: 1,123,000 / 1,103,000 www.independent.co.uk The Sun and the Sun on Sunday Contact: television, radio and online media. (Sunday) Online readership: 60,000 [email protected] Readership: 397,000 / 478,000 (Sunday) www.thesun.co.uk Contact: Daily Mirror, 1 Canada Square, Canary The Guardian Online readership: 331,000 Print readership: [email protected] Wharf, London E14 5AP www.guardian.co.uk Contact: BBC TV services and 6,435,000 / 5,699,000 (Sunday)