About the Project

In the spring and summer of 2009, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, in collaboration with the Vodafone Foundation Germany, conducted a small-scale pilot study, aimed at assessing ‘mainstream’ and ‘minority’ media reporting on Muslims and the media people chose to inform themselves.

Perceptions and opinions were identified through around 100 in-depth interviews and focus group meetings in three countries, bringing together a cross-section of individuals and media professionals from Germany, France and the UK. Following on from the pilot, the current project aims to:

  • Identify possible relationships between inter-identity perceptions and patterns in the use and production of both mainstream and alternative media targeted at predominantly Muslim audiences in view of further key variables, which may include socio-economic background, education, gender, ethnicity, religion, generation, personal and private inter-cultural relationships and age.
  • Document radio, print, television and Internet media outlets targeted at, produced by and significantly consumed by audiences of Muslim background in Europe.

An in-depth Discussion Paper further explores the project's context, key questions, and background research.