Research shows 'structural, systematic bias' in UK media coverage of Muslims

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - A newly-published research on Tuesday shed a light on widespread anti-Muslim bias in British media with GB News accounted for half of UK news channels coverage about Muslims and Islam, much of it with negative portrayals.

Following a two-year analysis, the research produced by the Centre for Media Monitoring (CFMM) showed "structural and systematic bias in GB News reporting about British Muslims."

According to the report, the channel's coverage is "excessive" focus on Muslims bordering on an "obsession" that "regularly demonises their beliefs."

"Stories about Islam are “overwhelmingly negative” and fail to understand the diverse nature of Muslim communities in the UK," the report suggested.

The finding revealed that GB News mentioned Muslims or Islam more than 17,000 times in its output, accounting for almost 50% of total mentions on UK news channels. BBC News and Sky News accounted for 32% and 21% respectively.

Saying that Islamophobia has been referenced on GB News on 1,180 occasions accounting for 60% of all mentions when compared with BBC News and Sky News, however it noted that GB News stories "overwhelmingly" are geared towards "rubbishing the concept of Islamophobia."

- Coverage during violent far-right riots

The study showed that during the summer riots, GB News accounted for 62% of all clips on UK news channels that associated Muslims with the riots.

It stated that this figure was the most of any news channel and three times as many as featured on BBC News or Sky News.

The far-right riots that broke out across the UK following a stabbing incident in Southport on July 29.

The violent disorder was fueled by false online claims that the suspect in the fatal stabbing of three children in Southport was a Muslim asylum seeker. The attacker, identified as Axel Rudakubana, a 17-year-old from Cardiff with Rwandan parents, has done little to deter the far-right mobs.

"GB News repeatedly framed Muslims as perpetrators rather than victims of violence, downplaying attacks on mosques and Muslim communities, contributing to a biased narrative. "

The CFMM report mentioned "risks inciting violence and discrimination against Muslim communities” and may have contributed to the toxic atmosphere surrounding last summer’s riots.

The channel also "rarely features Muslim perspectives," often "fails to challenge Islamophobic remarks" and portrays Muslims as a "Trojan horse" seeking to undermine British values, according to the study.

Mentioning that the analysis compares GB News coverage of events concerning Muslim and Islam with the more balanced and far less negative approach of mainstream TV channels like BBC News and Sky News, the analysis concluded that "GB News hates Islam and Muslims."

The CFMM report also asked Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, takes a much more robust approach to the broadcasting of biased content that misinforms viewers, divides communities and may encourage violence and disorder. 

GB News denied the findings of "inaccurate and defamatory" report, claiming that it is" nothing more than a cynical, self-serving attempt to silence free speech."

"It proves exactly why a news organisation like GB News needs to exist and why it is succeeding," said a spokesperson for GB News.