Research Phases

Phase 1:  circa February 2010 – October 2010

The first phase of the project has identified and documented radio, print, television and internet media outlets targeted at, produced by and significantly consumed by populations of Muslim background in the UK, France and Germany.  Phase 1 will also see the publication of a background paper on the research including an initial analysis Muslim targeted media in France, Germany and the UK, which will be available in print and online for download.

Phases 2 and 3:  circa November 2010 – December 2012

Through interviews in each country and desk research, the second and third  phase of the project will investigate:

  • Media usage of Muslims and non-Muslims (quantitative and qualitative), possibly including viewership numbers of Muslim targeted media, and why and how people of Muslim and non-Muslim backgrounds use various media outlets;
  • The possible relationship between media usage and inter-community perceptions, drawing analysis along various variable lines, potentially including socio-economic background, personal and private inter-cultural relationships, educational background, generation, age, gender, religion, ethnicity and nationality;
  • The scope and type of diversity in mainstream media programming and production (personnel, images and narratives);
  • The potential impact of levels and types of diversity in programming and production on inter-community relationships;
  • Diversity policy and practice within media institutions. This might include an investigation into the numbers and positions of ethnic minorities within key media institutions, an analysis of career opportunities and barriers for Muslims, and patterns in the religious/ethnic makeup of decision-making within media organisations.

The research will begin in Winter 2010 in Germany and the UK, with plans to extend to France in 2011 once a fourth research partner has been identified. If you are interested in headlining the support for the research’s undertaking in France, please contact Programme Manager Sofia Hamaz on shamaz@strategicdialogue.org.

Phase 4:  circa January 2013 – December 2013

While dissemination of interim results will take place at different times in each phase of the research, phase 4 will specifically focus on dissemination of the project's overall results.  Drawing on ISD, the Vodafone Foundation Germany and the British Council's global networks amongst local, policy and media communities, this phase will focus on the successful public dissemination of the research findings and products in a coordinated and targeted way through various fora.