Faith in Media: Improving Coverage of Islam and Other Religions
December 14-16, 2008
Point Hotel,
Topçu Caddesi No.2 Taksim
Istanbul, Turkey
6:30 p.m. Welcoming remarks and conference overview by ICFJ President Joyce Barnathan.
Keynote speech by Anthony Shadid, Washington Post
7:30-9:00 p.m. Dinner
You are free the rest of the evening.
9:00 a.m.-9:30 a-m FIGHTING WORDS: What happened after Wisconsin?
In 2005, Arab and U.S. journalists met in Wisconsin at a conference organized by ICFJ under the title “Bridging the Gap: Misunderstandings and Misinformation in the Arab and U.S. Media.” At the conference, the participants discussed issues related to their respective cultures and journalism practices. The outcome of the conference was a manual entitled Fighting Words, which was distributed in newsrooms across the United States and the Arab countries. Now, three years after the conference, where do we stand? Do U.S. reporters have a better understanding of issues related to the Arab world?
What was the impact of the manual on reporters from both cultures?
Former Chicago Tribune reporter Stephen Franklin, who attended the conference, will give a brief review of the manual and discuss its impact.
9:30 a.m-10:30 a.m CLASH OF BELIEFS:
A major issue in Turkey today is safeguarding the country’s unique secular tradition. As the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has grown stronger, Turks have been faced with questions about the role of religion in government and their daily lives. How has this controversy evolved, and what does it mean for Muslim governments globally? How has Turkey's secular Islam, rooted in the founding of the modern Turkish Republic, adjusted to the growth of Islamic leaning parties?
Speaker: Faik Bulut, Turkish journalist and author, Emre Akoz, Sabah newspaper
10:30-11:00 a.m Break
11 -0:00 p.m Small Group Discussions
Participants will break out in pre-assigned groups to discuss the topics below. They are expected to present recommendations on how U.S. journalists and those from Muslim countries can improve mutual communication and understanding and their coverage of certain topics. Each group leader will report to the whole conference the next day with the conclusions of each group’s findings and ideas.
Small Group 1
Leader: Chris Quinn, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Abd Al Hakeem Hilal, Al-Masdar newspaper
Covering Your Own Religion: Can you cover your own religion without bias? Can you detach yourself from your religious beliefs in your reporting?
Small Group 2
Leader: Ari Goldman, Columbia University,
Andreas Harsono, Indonesian Journalist and Author
Religious Minorities in the Muslim World: Are religious minorities in the Muslim World getting their fair share of coverage in the media in both the U.S. and Muslim countries? Are their issues being addressed or are they being swept under the rug?
Small Group 3
Leader: Debra Mason, Executive Director, Religion Newswriters, Barış Soydan, Sabbah newspaper
Religion As A Beat: Should religion be a separate beat in newsrooms, or should it be integrated in the day-to-day coverage of local stories? Should media employ specialists? If not, is it possible for journalists to understand enough about religion to get it right?
Small Group 4
Leader: Antonio Bernhardt, Fox News, Khaled Hamza, Ikhwan Web
Offending Religion: Should journalists be concerned about offending followers of a certain religion? What should come first: press freedom or religious sensitivity?
1:00-3:00 p.m. Working Lunch
ICFJ Vice President Patrick Butler will discuss project proposals submitted by participants.
3:00-4:00 p.m. WHAT DO THE HOLY BOOKS REALLY SAY?
Does the Quran really say that women need to wear the veil, or was that in the Hadith? What are the verses that mention Jihad and what do they really mean? What does the holy text really say, and how should journalists use them in their reporting?
Speaker: Yusuf Kaplan
4:00-6:00 p.m. COVERING THE OTHER – ARE WE REALLY GETTING IT?
What are the main misconceptions when it comes to covering Islam by Western media outlets? Has their coverage improved after 9/11 or has it deteriorated? Meanwhile, how are the media outlets in the Muslim world covering the United States? Is the U.S. being portrayed fairly, or is anti-Americanism is becoming the common trend amid media outlets in Muslim countries?
Speakers: Stephen Franklin , Chicago Tribune, Maria Ebrahimji, CNN, Emre Akoz, Sabah newspaper
Session moderated by Anthony Shadid
Break 6:00 -6:30
6:30-7:30 p.m. ISLAM ON THE WEB
In the past decade or so, reporting on Islam found a new niche on the Web. From Web sites such as islamonline.com to religious bloggers, the Web is home to a plethora of Web sites that analyze the different aspects of Islam theologies and its practices. Can Islamic-oriented websites and publications separate religion from reporting, or should they? Should they defend the religion, or cover controversies as well as comment on them?
Speaker Khaled Hamza, Ikhwan Web, and Mustapha Ajbaili, Islam Online
8:00 p.m. Dinner
You are free the rest of the evening.
8:30-10:30 a.m. Plenary Session
Moderators lead participants in a discussion and summary of the results and recommendations presented by leaders of the group sessions from the previous day.
10:30-10:45 a.m. Break
10:45-11:45 a.m. RELIGION IN THE U.S: HOW PIVOTAL IS IT?
Religion played a major role in the most recent U.S.presidential election. From The New Yorker cover that lampooned rumors revolving around Barack Obama’s hidden Muslim identity, to the controversial remarks made by Obama’s pastor, Jeremiah Wright, religion was a major factor in the elections. How balanced was the media in its coverage of religion during the election? Is there a real separation between church and state in the U.S.
Speaker: Ari Goldman Columbia University; David Briggs, Cleveland Plain Dealer; Mathew Streib Religion News Service
Session moderated by Joyce Barnathan
11:45 a.m.-12 p.m. Conclusion and wrap up by ICFJ President Joyce Barnathan
12:00-1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Participants depart to Haghia Sophia
8:00 p.m. Dinner
This event is sponsored by Carnegie Corporation of New York.