Posts Tagged: Media

Where does the myth of Muslim ‘no-go areas’ come from?

Where does the myth of Muslim ‘no-go areas’ come from?

Stories about areas in the UK that are a ‘no-go’ for non-Muslims often circulate online. But are these valid concerns, or a moral panic grounded in a fear of difference? One of the most bizarre and unfounded claims about the British Muslim community in recent years is a moral panic that is popular amongst politicians …

Informational Images: Racial Bias in Photojournalism

Informational Images: Racial Bias in Photojournalism

Visual elements of news are crucial components of communicating information to the public. The implicit prejudices that news images convey are significant, because they perpetuate harmful stereotypes about marginalised groups.   News images as communication Effective communication requires that the audience absorb the information that it is presented with. Words can only go so far …

Colour-blind casting: a step in the right direction?

Colour-blind casting: a step in the right direction?

Does the diverse casting of shows like Bridgerton and Hamilton do enough to improve BAME representation? A lack of on-screen racial diversity is not a new phenomenon — White actors are too often the ‘go to’ for casting directors, and characters of colour (when included at all) are often relegated to the background. “Colour-blind” casting, …

Narratives blaming minorities for spreading Covid-19 are not new — instead, they reflect a wider pattern of scapegoating

Narratives blaming minorities for spreading Covid-19 are not new — instead, they reflect a wider pattern of scapegoating

Blaming marginalised communities for society’s problems deflects attention away from where it is needed. The Covid-19 pandemic has birthed a dangerous cocktail of anxiety, conspiracy theories, and racism. The UK witnessed a sharp rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the pandemic’s initial stages, in direct response to narratives describing Covid-19 as the “Chinese virus”. Fake …

COVID 19 – Scapegoating Minorities

COVID 19 – Scapegoating Minorities

Sensationalist media contribute to creating social tensions during the pandemic   COVID-19 has brought to light the major inequalities that exist within our society, in particular the disproportionate effect on BAME communities. The media and government have been responsible for creating scapegoats out of minorities in the rise of cases through baseless allegations. The UK …

Are Women’s Voices Heard?

Two women every single week are killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales. Women are approximately twice as likely to experience domestic abuse than men, but it is women’s voices that seem to be ignored in media coverage of cases. Furthermore, many feel that the systems in place for protecting women …