Degree Name
MALS (Master of Arts in Liberal Studies)
Program
Liberal Studies
Date of Award
8-2015
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Marie Tedesco
Committee Members
Melvin Page, Melissa Schrift
Abstract
Southern Appalachian attitudes about the religion of Islam and Muslim adherents are influenced largely by mass media's representations. With more than 80% of Appalachia’s population following Protestant Christianity, exposure to Islam in daily life is limited. Media outlets offer the greatest exposure to information about the religion and its adherents. This thesis examined the region's media representation of Islam and Muslims to determine what images are most often portrayed. Research following a twoyear span of reporting in Southern Appalachia studied substance, word frequency, imagery, and editing used in articles that focused on Islam and Muslims. Through the use of content analysis examining rural and metropolitan news circulated in the area, the study found significant use of negative words and phrases in reporting about Islam and Muslims. Newsroom editing of articles also had a considerable damaging effect on how reports represented Islam and Muslims.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Reynolds, Saundra K., "Media Representation of Islam and Muslims in Southern Appalachia" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 2574. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2574
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
Appalachian Studies Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Journalism Studies Commons, Other Religion Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons