Media Monster

Two weeks ago an article appeared on Reuters.com about the jury selection for the trial of an Islamic cleric, Abu Hamza al-Masri, accused of plotting to start a militant base camp in the United States.  (Ax, 2014) I was struck by the headline that referred to al-Masri as a “one-eyed, handless Islamic cleric.”

Robertson (2013) argues that media outlets in the age of globalization hold a large amount of power in framing our sense of “self” and “other”.  In a shared global space, he says that the media define the moral space and determine how the other should appear to us. In doing so they seek to elicit a moral response from us.

The headline of the story portrays al-Masri as monstrous.  Juxtaposing the physical description with his identity as an Islamic cleric seeks to associate a monstrous appearance with a western perception of Islamic fanaticism.  This is designed to elicit a moral response from the audience based upon the particular frame.

Despite the widespread use of personal communication technologies, large media outlets still possess large amounts of power and influence.  It is for this reason that users and consumers of media must maintain a critical eye in order to see through certain agendas and framing strategies and understand messages from a more objective viewpoint.

References

Ax, J. (2014, April, 14). Jury Selected for U.S. Trial of one-eyed, handless Islamic cleric. Retrieved from http:// http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/14/us-usa-security-imam-idUSBREA3D11620140414

Robertson, A. (2013). Connecting in crisis: “Old” and “new” media and the Arab Spring. International Journal of Press/Politics, 18, 325-341.