Our Inherent Flaws: the Harmful Stereotypes Western News Reporting Propagates About Muslims
Callista Fiegl
Faculty mentor: Atsushi Tajima
State University of New York at Geneseo
This paper analyzes Western news reporting of several terror attacks, specifically the Charlie Hebdo shooting in January 2015 and the Paris attacks in November 2015. In doing so, the paper examines the way Western news organizations produce, frame, and write their stories, leading to the creation of three themes that perpetuate prejudice and bias about Muslims and the Arab race: one, us versus them or West versus Middle East; two, all Muslims are terrorists; and three, Western lives matter more. In conclusion, this paper discusses the potential harm this type of reporting may cause Muslims and Arabs who call America their home.
Callista Fiegl is a senior journalism and media major from Springwater, New York. After school she intends to go to France to teach English as a second language and then continue her schooling.