Date: ______________ (Term 2, Week 2, 3, and 4: 11%)

Media in Religion (how media report about religious issues)

Negative and positive impact of the media on people's religious beliefs
Negative impact Positive impact
• People might easily turn away from their religions due to • Media can be used effectively to
what they hear/see from the media. reach people who are
• They might be tempted to model characters they see in the unreachable, e.g. Khumbulekhaya
media. • Media can be used to promote
• People might be misled and think that the media is the an awareness campaign to
solution to their problems. people.
• Most of the time what we see in the media does not reflect • Media can be used to promote
the true life of those people. religious events and educate
• People become addicted to media and they socialise less. people on recent matters.

Advantages and disadvantages of using social media in religion

Advantages
● Social media presents up-to-date information to the public.
● Religious organisations can use social media to promote themselves.
● Different religions can use media to announce their activities e.g. Easter celebrations in
Christianity, Diwali celebrations in Hinduism and the holy month of Ramadan for every Muslim.
● Individuals can also air their views on different aspects of life.
● Social media can assist in ensuring that messages that are intended for specific sections of the
community reach the intended recipients.
● They can also use media to convey messages of hope to the whole nation.
Disadvantages
● It can promote radical personal opinions that may impact negatively on significant religious issues.
● It can be an effective tool for religious propaganda.
● It may cause degeneration of moral values in society, as children can have easy access to
undesirable material.
● People can become addicted to media and live self-centred lives.

The following are some religious stereotypes created by the media:

● Jews are money-grabbers.
● Catholic priests are child molesters.
● Muslims are terrorists.
● Buddhists are peace-loving monks.

Different ways in which religions can respond to negative media coverage of religious issues
● They can protest against the media.

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● They can organise their members to boycott the media.
● They can approach the matter through a legal challenge.
● They can be involved in counter-argument and challenge the media in order to voice their side of
the story.
● They can be engaged in a collective response from interdenominational or interreligious
organisations.
● Religions must have knowledge of how to use media and its restrictions.
● Religions should be proactive and explain their point of view in the media.
● Religion must also understand the responsibilities that media have towards communities.
● Religious organisations must teach their members how to handle media.
● Religious organisations must invite media experts for advice.
● Media need to have knowledge and understanding of different religions before reporting on
religious issues.
● Media have a responsibility to present the information in an unbiased manner.
● Because articles are written by individuals with personal opinions, these opinions may influence
the readers on significant issues.
● Media must exercise caution in making comments and statements that seem judgemental about
religious issues.
● Constitutional rights make provision for fair coverage on religious issues.

The representation of religions in the media' in South Africa

Negative coverage Positive coverage
● Coverage differs both in terms of time and quality of coverage. ● The public broadcaster
● More time is given for majority religions, like Christianity, while (SABC) gives equal coverage
smaller religions get no coverage. to all major religions.
● Minority religions are excluded from mainstream media, e.g. ● The morning prayer on TV
Jain, Tao. is presented by various
● Some religions are selectively represented, e.g. Islam, shown religions in rotation.
as a violent religion, with protests and terrorist attacks getting ● There are dedicated TV
maximum coverage. channels for each religion,
● Buddhism is shown as a religion of peace; the Dalai Lama gets according to community
positive coverage, as do Buddhist monks. needs.
● Religions are heavily stereotyped, some positively, others ● Islam Channel and Rhema
negatively. church are two such
● Minority religions get positive coverage. examples.
● Christianity gets the most coverage. ● Radio channels too, cater
● International visits by the Pope get full coverage, whereas other for a variety of religions.
religious leaders are hardly mentioned. ● Hindvani, Radio Pulpit,
● The media also remains silent on (or downplays) some religious Radio Highway and Radio Al
issues. Ansaar are some examples.
● The ethnic cleansing of Myanmar's Rohigya Muslims by ● The Internet has no limit on
Buddhists is rarely mentioned. the establishment of websites
● The rise of Hindu fundamentalism in India is largely ignored, dedicated to any religion /
while fundamentalism in Christianity and Islam are always language.
emphasised.
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General media reports on religious issues
● The prevailing attitude is to give negative publicity to religion.
● Media reporting on religious issues is superficial.
● Reporters mostly approach religious issues from a secular and political perspective.
● Reporters may be selective and publish only that which is controversial.
● Towards orthodox faiths the tone is mostly hostile, but towards minority religions it is favourable.
● The persons interviewed most often are those who question orthodox religions.
● Reporters may be biased and take sides.

EXAMPLE OF HOW MEDIA REPORT RELIGION ISSUES:

● Reporters only report on Catholicism when there is suspicion of sexual abuse.
● They never report on theological or spiritual matters.
● Cartoons of Prophet Mohammad were published although Muslim communities informed the
media that Islam does not allow any images of the Prophet.
● More newspapers published the cartoons despite widespread protest.
● Minority religions: The Bahá'i faith is given positive and disproportionate (unbalanced) coverage.
● Extremism exists in all religions and even in secular communities.
● However, religious extremism is not given equal coverage in all religions.
● Extremism in Islam gets the most coverage, but the extremists in Buddhism (Myanmar) or
Hinduism are given little or no attention at all.

Factors that may cause the media to be biased in reporting religious issues
● There are political reasons.
● Religion is a highly contentious political issue. The public have very strong attitudes towards
religion, and media bias can influence such a sentiment.
● The media thrives on sensationalism, as this sells papers / advertising space.
● Reporters often do not have the specialist knowledge to interpret religious issues.
● The media relies (depends) on generation of income. They therefore report selectively on issues
that will sell
newspapers.
● Editorial decisions are influenced by political interests.
● Advertisers also influence how religious issues are covered in the media.

TWO examples of how media coverage can influence public opinion about religions
EXAMPLE 1: Boko Haram
● The media has highlighted the atrocities committed by this organisation.
● There are regular articles highlighting the attacks by this organisation on civilians

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● These attacks are shown as attacks against Christians.
● The fact that Boko Haram kills Muslims too is not emphasised.
● The battle between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government is not given the same coverage.
● The kidnapping of some 200 girls by Boko Haram was given worldwide publicity.
● It was used to highlight the faction's objection to educating girls.
● It is described as a fundamentalist Islamic organisation.
● This paints Islam in a negative light.
● The media generalises the action of a fundamentalist group to represent a diverse Muslim
population of some 2 billion people.
● Positive contributions such as charity and social cohesion that form part of religion are ignored.
EXAMPLE 2: Collapse of Church Building in Nigeria
● South African media were very quick to report on the collapse.
● This was because the majority of victims were South African.
● The church was criticised for not making details available immediately.
● TB Joshua (leader of the church) was labelled a false prophet.
● He is also painted as a person only interested in financial gain.
● He is said to be the richest church leader in Africa.
● All the good work done by his church throughout the world, is not highlighted.
● This points to the selective, sensationalist media coverage that religion is given.

EXAMPLE WHERE MEDIA CAUSE RELIGIOUS CONFLICT

● In 2012, a short movie called Innocence of Muslims was aired on YouTube.
● This movie was an attack on the character of Prophet Muhammad.
● It resulted in violent protests in many Muslim countries.
● Initially, it was reported that the movie was made and funded by Jews in the U.S.
● It was later found that it was in fact made by a Coptic Christian, living in the USA.
● It was funded by a Christian company called 'Media for Christ'
● This act led to a heightening of tensions between Christians and Muslims.

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Activity 1
Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.
RELIGION AND MEDIA – PAST PAPER

In several studies of religious coverage in the media the main conclusions were the
following:
(a) Coverage had increased significantly over the last decade but was very negative.
(b) Towards orthodox faiths, the tone is mostly hostile, but towards minority religions, it
favourable.
(c) The people interviewed most often are those who question orthodox religions.
(d) The political elements of religious ideas and institutions receive the most coverage.
(e) The struggles of women and minorities also receive a lot of attention.
(f) Issues involving sexual immorality also receive a lot of attention.
(g) Theological and spiritual questions are rarely presented as newsworthy.
[Adapted from Religion Studies Grade 12, Steyn et al.]
1.1 What do you understand by the word media? Include TWO different kinds of media in your
answer. (6)
● The word 'media' is the plural of the Latin 'medium' meaning 'by means of'.
● We understand media as the means by or through which mass communication is carried out.
● Kinds of media: social media/ social networks;
● electronic media; TV, films
● Print media/ mass media – magazines, newspaper, publications, pamphlets, articles; radio,
broadcasting, etc.

1.2 Discuss conclusion (a) in the extract above, and indicate whether it is beneficial to religion. (6)
● The significant increase in coverage is in line with the communications explosion of our times.
● Due to today's easy access to information, more people are curious to know and find out things,
including religious matters, for themselves.
● These days, many ordinary people are also well-educated, not just the religious experts, and their
education enables them to form their own opinions in religious matters and world affairs.
● The increase in coverage can be beneficial to religion as it involves more people and there can be
greater accountability all round.
● On the other hand, mere increase in coverage is not automatically a benefit, especially if the
coverage is skewed.

1.3 Refer to conclusion (b) in the extract above and answer the following questions:
1.3.1 Explain, in your own words, what is meant by orthodox faiths and minority religions in this
context. (4)
● 'Orthodox faiths' means the major traditional religions of the world, e.g. Judaism, Christianity,
Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.
● 'Minority religions' means the smaller, lesser-known religions, such as indigenous knowledge
systems/indigenous religions, Jainism, Confucianism, Shinto
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1.3.2 Suggest TWO reasons why 'the tone is mostly hostile' towards orthodox faiths, but 'favourable'
towards minority religions. (4)
● Our increasingly secular world is not very interested in religion, particularly the traditional, mainline
religions.
● Our secular world may even be quite hostile to religion.
● These religions, regarded as 'old' and 'stuffy', are not seen as newsworthy unless the news can be
made sensational.
● The modern trend is towards protecting minorities who do not have much of a voice to speak for
themselves.
● Previously, the minority religions, such as the indigenous religions, were in danger of dying out.

1.4 Refer to conclusion (f) in the extract above. Discuss ONE example of this you have noticed in
the media. (10)
EXAMPLE 1:
● Recently there have been reports in the print media/newspapers about sexual abuse of boys by
clergy in the Anglican Church.
● Two men have revealed this after more than 20 years of silence, one a well-known author.
● The Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, devoted part of his Easter
sermon to this matter, which has been a shock to the church.
● He acknowledged that the church has lagged behind in investigating such matters.
● The article gave a balanced view.
● The Archbishop must be complimented for his honesty and for the steps he has taken to prevent
such crises.
EXAMPLE 2:
● According to a report in the social media, the Cultural, Religious and Language Rights
Commission has been investigating reports of sexual abuse by religious leaders.
● A spokesperson for the Commission has stated that this issue is 'more common than we thought'.
● The Commission is doing its work following up the complaints in an objective and professional
manner.
● At the same time, it laments the spread of sexual abuse that it is uncovering.
● Initial reports indicate that the sexual abuse has been going on for a long time, but in silence and
secrecy.
● The victims feel helpless because the perpetrator is an authority figure in a position of trust.
● They are also often threatened with violence, and therefore remain silent.

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1.5 With regard to religious coverage in the media, explain what is meant by EACH of the following
and give a suitable example in EACH case:
1.5.1 Stereotyping (4)
● This is a generalisation of someone or a group of people that is fixed and widely held,
that one has accepted unquestioningly from others, without personal reflection or experience or
research.
● The acceptance is based on a preconceived idea or ignorance or prejudice.
● Example: Germans are anti-Jew.

1.5.2 Bias (4)

● This is an unfair favouring of one or other point of view.
● It is similar to prejudice.
● It is the opposite of impartiality.
● Example: In the apartheid era, the state was biased towards a specific interpretation of the Bible
that favoured white supremacy.

1.5.3 Impartiality (4)

● It means reporting all sides of an issue without favouring any one.
● Synonyms for impartiality are neutrality, fairness, non-bias, objectivity.
● It is the opposite of bias or prejudice.
● Example: The South African Constitution shows impartiality in matters of religion or race.

1.5.4 Sensationalism (4)

● Sensationalism is reporting with the intention of raising 'hype' around an issue.
● The reason is often commercial – to grab attention and so attract sales.
● There is less concern to take a reasoned approach.
● There is no concern to get to the truth of the matter.
● Example: the pastors who sprayed their congregation with insecticide received worldwide
publicity.

1.5.5 Factual account (4)

● This is an account that reports the facts, without emotive language (language that is used to
evoke an emotional response from the reader).
● It is the opposite of a sensational or emotional or biased account.
● E.g. A report on Roman Catholic priests that balances the good and the bad, showing the
proportion of those involved in child abuse and measuring this against the general population.
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