Can Islamophobia in the Media Serve Islamic State Propaganda? The Australian Case, 2014–2015

Abstract

A few years ago, in my interviews with young Australian Muslims, I found that the participants were critical of the practices of the conventional media when it reported on the topic of Islam or Muslims. In recent years, my newspaper research has shown that the rhetoric of the “Muslim Other” has become more frequent. In this chapter, through thematic critical discourse analysis and content analysis of selected print media, I examine whether the print media is Islamophobic and if its sensationalist representation of Muslim news can serve Islamic State propaganda. I conclude that media stereotypes can further marginalize vulnerable Muslim youth and that can make them susceptible to radicalization.