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Article
Broadcasting Sharia: American TV News' Illustration of Social Identity and the Emergence of a Threat
Journal of Media & Religion (2014)
  • Jennifer Hoewe
  • Brian J. Bowe, Michigan State University
  • Naheda Makhadmeh, Michigan State University
Abstract
Using social identity theory to assess in-group, out-group representations, this study examines the portrayal of sharia in American network television media. A 10-year content analysis showed that ABC, CBS, and NBC continually paired sharia with mentions of the United States, reinforcing its representation as the in-group. These mentions frequently were coupled with mentions of non-Western countries, supporting the idea of an in-group versus out-group comparison. Moreover, the stories included many topics connotatively negative in Western culture. A significant and positive relationship between mentions of non-Western countries and connotatively negative topics was found, reinforcing the positioning of individuals associated with sharia—most often Muslims—within the out-group.
Keywords
  • journalism,
  • sharia,
  • Islam,
  • social identity
Disciplines
Publication Date
2014
Citation Information
Jennifer Hoewe, Brian J. Bowe and Naheda Makhadmeh. "Broadcasting Sharia: American TV News' Illustration of Social Identity and the Emergence of a Threat" Journal of Media & Religion Vol. 13 Iss. 2 (2014)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/brianjbowe/6/