muslims and media: perceptions, reality and how you can make a difference

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Muslims and MediaMuslims and MediaPerception, Reality and how you can make a Perception, Reality and how you can make a

difference.difference.

Changing the world one story at a time

JavedJaved MohammedMohammedWriterWriter--ProducerProducerk2film@live.comk2film@live.com

Copyright 2008

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What image do you want to What image do you want to be associated with?be associated with?

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This?This?

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Or this?Or this?

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ThisThis

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Or this?Or this?

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ThisThis

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Or this?Or this?

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Perception is realityPerception is reality

Well pretty close.Well pretty close.

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So who decides perception?So who decides perception?

You + me + them

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What if 6 Billionaires decided what What if 6 Billionaires decided what 300 Million Americans 300 Million Americans

watch, hear, read?watch, hear, read?

Rupert Murdoch

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That’s right.That’s right.6 corporations own 90% of media 6 corporations own 90% of media holdings in the US.holdings in the US.

Others

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The Mighty 6The Mighty 6

1.1. ViacomViacom2.2. Disney Disney 3.3. Time WarnerTime Warner4.4. General General

ElectricElectric5.5. BertelsmannBertelsmann6.6. News CorpNews Corp

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So howSo howdoes thisdoes this

impact me?impact me?

Less faces, same Less faces, same voicevoice

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Now here are some interesting Now here are some interesting stats from a survey done by stats from a survey done by

How do Americans perceive How do Americans perceive Muslims? Muslims?

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First thoughts about MuslimsFirst thoughts about Muslims

Positive Comments,

6, 7%

Neutral Comments,

57, 64%

Negative Comments,

26, 29%

CAIR Survey: 2005

CAIR Poll ResultsCAIR Poll Results

War, hatred, violence

Terrorists, enemies,

Osama bin LadenOppressed women

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––veve vsvs ++veve images,images,10:110:1

vs

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So what does all this mean?So what does all this mean?

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Is there no hope?Is there no hope?

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Absolutely there is: You can Absolutely there is: You can still make a difference!still make a difference!

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We just have to work harder, We just have to work harder, smarter, everyone. No Excusessmarter, everyone. No Excuses

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How? How? Control the Control the ControllablesControllables

Use Use Alternative Alternative mediamedia

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Share positive inspiring Share positive inspiring messagesmessages

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Become or recruit an AficionadoBecome or recruit an Aficionado

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What’s a…?What’s a…?

Aficionado: a Aficionado: a WellWell--wisher, awisher, an n enthusiastic admirer, a fan. enthusiastic admirer, a fan. Someone, anyone who shares your Someone, anyone who shares your feelings and expresses sympathy or hopes feelings and expresses sympathy or hopes that something will be successful.that something will be successful.

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OK, so I found my Aficionado, OK, so I found my Aficionado, I have a message, now what.I have a message, now what.

YouYou’’re off to a good start, now breathe in,re off to a good start, now breathe in,Get set,Get set,……

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Research itResearch it

Has subject Has subject been covered been covered before?before?

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If not: what is the best medium If not: what is the best medium to get the message across?to get the message across?

Lecture, opinion Lecture, opinion newspaper, newspaper, short story, short story, book, video, book, video, podcast, TV, podcast, TV, film?film?

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Are you the best person for this Are you the best person for this task or should you partner with task or should you partner with someone?someone?

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Let’s take a lesson from the Let’s take a lesson from the movies.movies.

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But I’m not famous!But I’m not famous!

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Don’t worry. Don’t worry.

But if you’re rich it helpsBut if you’re rich it helps

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I’m not rich either?I’m not rich either?

Well you could sell your kidneys.Well you could sell your kidneys.or how about a garage sale?or how about a garage sale?

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OK there is one last option. Be OK there is one last option. Be controversial.controversial.

That’ll get you in the newsThat’ll get you in the news

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Actions you can takeActions you can take

Stop blaming Stop blaming ““them.them.”” The The problem is problem is ““us.us.””

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Actions you can takeActions you can take

ItIt’’s easy to be s easy to be a a ““criticcritic””

CRITIC

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Actions you can takeActions you can take

Instead Instead become a become a ““producer.producer.””

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Actions you can takeActions you can take

Start Start somewhere, , anywhereanywhere

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Actions you can takeActions you can take

Watch Watch movies with a movies with a critical critical eyeeye. .

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Actions you can takeActions you can take

Watch the Watch the special special features features (making off) (making off) on DVDson DVDs

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Actions you can takeActions you can take

Take a Take a creative creative writing classwriting class

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Take classesTake classes

““Introduction to Introduction to film.film.””A Screenwriting A Screenwriting classclass

No matter what your age or interest at a community collegeNo matter what your age or interest at a community college

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Actions you can takeActions you can take

Write Write ““Letters Letters to the editorto the editor””

or or ““an opinion an opinion piecepiece””

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Actions you can takeActions you can take

Write a short Write a short story or even story or even a novel,a novel,……

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Actions you can takeActions you can take

Listen to Listen to different radio different radio shows.shows.

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Actions you can takeActions you can take

Call in with an Call in with an opinion or opinion or some some expertise.expertise.

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Last but not leastLast but not least

Use word of Use word of mouth and mouth and words of words of handshands

“The example of a good word is like a good tree”Muhammad, Prophet of Islam

SubscribeSubscribe

Ask Libraries, collegesAsk Libraries, collegesinstitutions to buy/subscribeinstitutions to buy/subscribe

Donate, Sponsor, SellDonate, Sponsor, Sell

http://www.myfavoritereview.com/

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ReferenceReference

All images are used under All images are used under ““fair usefair use”” and and obtained from the public domain. They are obtained from the public domain. They are the property of the respective copyright the property of the respective copyright holders.holders.Please Note: I started to keep track of sources but it became toPlease Note: I started to keep track of sources but it became too o cumbersome.cumbersome.

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Part 2 of this presentation:

From Hollywood to Bollywood: The changing role of MuslimsIn film is also available on slideshare.