JOURNALISTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF ISLAM-RELATED TERMINOLOGIES IN MASS MEDIA DISCOURSE ON TERRORISM

Abstract

The use of Islam-related terminologies in news coverage of Islam has become a contentious issue amongst scholars, researchers, and religious experts. Therefore, this study aims to explore the journalists’ perceptions with regard to the use of Islam-related terminologies in mass media discourse on terrorism. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four journalists from selected eastern and western mass media. Using purposive sampling, two journalists were chosen from the eastern and the western mass media respectively. The data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. The findings revealed that controversial Islam-related terminologies are used in negative contexts. The degree of negativity depends on the context of discourse, country, and media outlet” via which the topic is covered. The use of Islam-related terminologies in the media outlets could be influential in making the audience to perceive Islam as a religion of terrorism. It was envisaged that this study would advance our understanding regarding the use of Islam related terminologies in news coverage of Islam from the journalists’ perspective.