Visible Religion: News Coverage of Religion in Ohio

A reporter interviews an imam on camera inside a Muslim community center

Module 1: Media Bias in Coverage of Religion

Objective:

Students will learn that there is bias within media coverage, especially in coverage of religion. After working through the readings/videos, discussion questions, and homework, students should be able to understand and spot biases and be more aware of them while consuming media.

Resources:

Readings/Videos:

Discussion Questions:

  • After watching the TED Talk on media bias, do you think the media creates reality? Or does the media talk about what’s going on? Or both?
  • What did you learn from the Post Facto activity about navigating bias within news coverage? What criteria did you use to judge the reliability of the news?
  • In relation to the readings, what do you think are the dangers of media bias, especially when covering religion? How can these dangers affect the public's outlook on specific religious groups, especially those you may not be familiar with?
  • How can journalists/the media work to rid of these biases?
  • Why is it important to look holistically at a religious group, as opposed to letting one frame influence your perception?

Homework:

  • Have students find and read 2 articles on any topic: one that affirms their own beliefs, and one that doesn't. Then ask them to provide a short write-up about where they see their own biases come into play, changing, etc.
  • Send students on a news publication "scavenger hunt" in which they visit 3-4 online publications and examine their coverage of religion. Ask students to note if there's bias in the reporting, similarities and differences in bias, and level of bias.
  • Have students find articles that negatively frame/cover groups they identify with. Write a paragraph responding to the following question: "If this is the only article other people see on which to base their understanding of this group, what perception may those people have?"

Module 2: Religious Identity: Who/What Is "American?"

Objective:

Students will learn more about America's religious identity, what and who is considered "American," and how this might have changed over time. Students will be exposed to a couple different religions and understand the complexities of identity and religion and the importance of representing many different identities.

Resources:

Readings/Podcasts:

Discussion Questions:

  • How are other religions other than Christianity represented in the news? Similar or different to Christianity? How do these representations relate back to "American" identity?
  • Why is it important that all religions are represented in the media?
  • What does the article from the Columbus Dispatch suggest about changes in America's religious identity over time?
  • Referring to the podcast, what are the dangers of talking about the study of "religion" as "major religions?"

Homework:

  • Have students attend a local service of a religion other than their own (or watch a service via livestream or video). Ask them to write a few paragraphs reflecting on this experience.
  • Have students briefly research a tradition/holiday of any religion. Ask them to note what they found interesting, surprising, etc.
  • Have students write a reflection on the discussions from class. Ask: What were things they didn't know before about religions other than their own?
  • Ask students to reflect on the intersection of their own American and religious identity.

Module 3: Extreme Cases of Religion: Misrepresentation of Religion in News Coverage

Objective:

Students will learn and understand that due to media bias, there is a lot of misrepresentation of religion in news coverage. Through examples of  news stories that cover extreme cases of religion (violence, controversy, etc.), students will learn about the effects of misrepresentation of religions in the media, especially of minority religions, and why this may happen.

Resources:

Readings:

Discussion Questions:

  • How is Islam/Muslims represented in news media? Is this surprising to you? Why or why not?
  • Where do you see misrepresentation of the religions mentioned in the readings happening?
  • Are the misrepresentations of religion in the media fair? Why or why not?
  • How do the misrepresentations of religion relate back to media bias in coverage of religion?

Homework:

  • Have students find and bring to class 1-2 articles that report on extreme cases of religion (i.e. violence, controversy.) Ask them to reflect on how the coverage influences their understanding/feelings toward the religions reported on.
  • Assign students a minority/misrepresented religion, and ask them to look into the fundamentals of that religion. What are the core values and beliefs? Common practices and motivations? Ask them to draw similarities between the foundation of the assigned religion and a religion they are more familiar with.
  • Have students respond to the following questions: "How can we, as media consumers, be cognizant of media bias and its influence on the public’s perception of different religious groups? How can we balance acknowledging this bias, without discrediting the role and work of journalists?"
Photo credit

rgv.NEW.GRMosque.04-02-10.13 by Flickr user Michigan Radio, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0; cropped from original.