What is it about?
This study looks at how two major news networks, CNN and the BBC, reported the 2019 mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. It compares how each outlet described the attacker, his motives, and the role of racism, Islamophobia, and White supremacy. The research shows that both news sources called the attack terrorism and highlighted hate-driven motives, marking a shift from how Western media often covers attacks by White perpetrators. The study helps us understand how the media shapes public views on race, religion, and violence.
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Why is it important?
This research is important because it shows a shift in how Western media reports on terrorism, especially when the attacker is White and the victims are Muslim. Unlike past coverage that often downplays such attacks, this study reveals that both CNN and the BBC clearly named it as terrorism and highlighted the role of racism and Islamophobia. In a time of rising hate crimes and far-right extremism, understanding how media frames these events helps us recognize bias, push for fairer coverage, and better inform the public.
Perspectives
As the author, I felt a strong personal and academic responsibility to explore how mainstream media covers acts of terrorism committed by White supremacists, especially when the victims are Muslims. The Christchurch attack deeply affected communities around the world, and I wanted to analyze whether media coverage treated it with the same seriousness as other acts of terrorism. It was important for me to highlight how framing choices can either challenge or reinforce harmful stereotypes. I hope this work contributes to more balanced and honest reporting in the future, especially in the context of rising Islamophobia and far-right violence.
Basel Alameer Hasan
Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Terrorism, Islamophobia and White supremacy: Comparing CNN and the BBC coverage of the Christchurch mosque shooting, Journal of Arab & Muslim Media Research, April 2022, Intellect,
DOI: 10.1386/jammr_00041_1.
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