Jul. 1, 2025
MEDIA RESOURCE GUIDE:
Reporting on Islamophobia in Politics
Following the Democratic primary victory of Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor and the subsequent surge in Islamophobic rhetoric, the Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association (AMEJA) has identified recurring patterns in news coverage that warrant careful consideration.
Coverage of Muslim public figures in the U.S. includes disproportionate focus on faith, questions about loyalty, and coded language that reinforces harmful stereotypes. Such coverage reflects broader challenges faced by Muslims in public life and may contribute to bias or misinformation.
AMEJA offers the following guidance for journalists and editors aiming to ensure coverage is accurate and contextually informed. This is a living document.
________________________________________________________
Essential Guidelines for Coverage:
-
Prioritize accuracy and cultural context: Double-check names, pronunciations, and cultural references as a general rule, including when covering Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian communities. Ensure photos match the correct individuals and are contextually appropriate.
-
Use precise language: Be specific when referring to discrimination. Rather than euphemisms like "anti-Muslim sentiment," use descriptive terms like "Islamophobic attacks," "anti-Muslim violence," "anti-Arab racism," or "xenophobic targeting."
-
Understand legal definitions and limitations: "Hate crime" is a legal term with specific requirements. Regardless of an incident's legal classification or motive, the impact on affected communities should be reported and centered.
-
Attribute and contextualize inflammatory rhetoric when reporting on claims about individuals' political affiliations, religious beliefs, or associations. Provide immediate context when reporting inflammatory statements or social media posts, rather than amplifying without pushback.
-
-
Example: Rather than repeating claims like "jihadist terrorist" on their own, report: "New York Councilwoman Vickie Paladino called Mamdani a 'jihadist terrorist' in a radio interview, though no evidence supports this characterization”
-
-
Report human impact, not just political implications of discrimination on individuals, families, and communities rather than treating incidents as purely political phenomena.
-
Avoid amplifying conspiracy theories or guilt-by-association narratives connecting individuals to extremist organizations without concrete evidence.
-
-
Example: Rather than just amplifying posts that “there will be another 9/11” provide immediate context: "Social media posts falsely suggested Mamdani's election would lead to terrorist attacks, echoing unfounded conspiracy theories that have targeted Muslim candidates for decades."
-
-
Frame bias as a choice, not an inevitability: Frame discriminatory attacks as choices made by individuals and systems, not as unavoidable consequences of religious or cultural differences.
-
Include independent and community-based sources when covering incidents involving law enforcement, intelligence agencies, or political figures. Seek independent verification and community perspectives.
________________________________________________________
Providing Context:
-
Add historical and structural context where applicable: Report on current incidents within the broader context of:
-
-
Historical patterns of Islamophobic targeting of political candidates
-
The intersection of anti-Muslim sentiment with other forms of racism and xenophobia
-
The rise in hate incidents during election season.
-
Center community perspectives: Prioritize the voices, experiences, and perspectives of Muslim, Arab, and Middle Eastern communities affected by Islamophobia.
-
Connect incidents to systemic issues: Rather than treating bias as isolated, look for links to patterns in reporting, campaigning, and governance.
________________________________________________________
Expertise and Support
-
Diversify your sources: Interview Muslim, Arab, Middle Eastern, and South Asian experts. Build relationships within communities you're covering. For help identifying qualified sources, AMEJA can assist directly at board@ameja.org)
