Methodology
In October 2010, the research team met to solidify the project’s methodology, with strategic input from the Advisory Board. Dr Elizabeth Poole, Dr Siobhan Holohan, Professor Isabelle Rigoni, Andreas Zick, Dr Souleymane Hassane, and David Deissner were in attendance, along with ISD Programme Manager Sofia Hamaz, Progamme Advisor Tufyal Choudhary and Project Assistant Shazia Nazir.
It was determined that 900 interviews would take place with Muslim and non-Muslim producers and consumers of television, print, radio and web media, across the three target countries. In-depth interviews will be used, as well as focus groups with Muslim and non-Muslim interviewees.
In addition to the interviews and focus groups, news stories covering key issues around Muslim communities and diversity in Europe will be analysed. Researchers will look to these stories for insight into Muslim–non-Muslim relations and representation in both the European mainstream media and media targeted at Muslim audience specifically. The analysis will also highlight how Muslim and non-Muslim consumers negotiate and respond to these stories.
Research will begin in Winter 2010 in Germany and France, with a view to extension to France on identification of a fourth headline funding partner.
