The MPAC Media department has been set up to monitor the Nigerian media on the way and manner they cover and report Islamic and Muslim issues worldwide. To provide positive feed-back on balanced reporting as well as to identify specific incidences of Islamophobia and to respond appropriately. Islam and Muslims are mostly under undue but real threat of media attacks from all sides; it is our duty to protect and defend ourselves against such attacks. We are under threat and under suspicion. The attacks could include religious extremists and bigots of any faith taking a swipe at the whole community in the name of freedom of _expression. It includes ‘faith supremacists’ knowing full well that Muslim bashing is still acceptable; after all we look different possibly because we’ve got beards and wear headscarves! Also, it includes own goals; the mindless and immoral attacks against civilians, short-sighted actions that reinforce negative stereotypes, and the preaching of the corrupt message of Jihad for political purposes, etc. It includes Muslims drug dealing, acting against Islamic and public interests in public offices and living life of crime. It includes empty rhetoric from tin pot dictators and cliques. Finally, it includes what we all can do something about; apathy and indifference. Muslims, against the clear tradition of the faith, have been taught the righteousness of ritual but not the love of action. It includes so much that the dangerous consequences of Islamophobia due to the media are so far reaching that the inequality we are under not only affects our self esteem but also our social standing. Surely there is a role that each and every one of us can play to tackle the mentality that produces Islamophobia, bigotry and extremism- within and outside the media community. We need volunteers to monitor and lobby media agencies, and we invite Muslim organizations to plug into our machine so we can form a robust coalition to defend and protect the Ummah better.

We therefore need volunteers to come forward who will be able to monitor media outlets for us. What the task involves is checking the news agencies for both positive and negative coverage of issues relating to Islam and Muslims. Equally, we need volunteers who can recognize the good reporting that provides context, information and insight into the complex issues relating to Muslims and give positive feedback, as well. Our vision in the media relations is to prevent and cure Islamophobia. A vision where the abused are no longer seen as the criminal, a community when attacked can defend itself, a society where our children can grow up and wear the headscarves and not be victimized by it. A COMMUNITY THAT ACTS AS A UMMAH RATHER THAN TALKS AS ONE.

If you have been upset about negative, biased portrayal of Islam and Muslims in the media? Don't just get angry, do something practical about it... get involved. Report it and then make your views heard. You have a right of response and do not allow apathy to take this right away from you. Remember, it normally only takes 20 to 30 complaints to make a difference- for you and your kids!

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WHY BOTHER TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

• It easy to write: A letter-to-the-editor should be not more than 250 words.
• It has a good chance of getting printed: The "Letters" section is the reader's forum.
• Letters have power in numbers: Even if your letter is not published, a flood of letters from the community cannot be ignored by any editor.

Common Violations of Media Objectivity and Journalistic Ethical standards:

1. Did the story contain misleading definitions and terminology? Does the reporter use partisan language or emotional “buzzwords? E.g. Islamists, Islamic militants, Jihad/Jihadists, Muslim Extremists, Muslim Terrorists, Fundamentalists etc.
2. Imbalanced Reporting: Media reports frequently skew the picture by presenting only one side of the story.
3. Use of Unreliable Sources.
4. Did the reporter editorialize in what was supposed to be an objective news story?
5. Unreported News
6. Did the reporter fail to provide proper background and context?
7. Was key information missing (selective omission)?
8. Opinions Disguised as News
9. Inappropriate Photos
10. Pejorative Syntax and Grammar
11. Did the reporter use true facts to draw false conclusions?
12. Did the reporter distort the facts?

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To comment on or counteract against any of the violations, use the following easy steps:

STEP ONE
Note the title of the article/programme/radio show and the date and time of print/broadcast. Make a list of your objections and or comments.

STEP TWO
Articulate in mind or in writing exactly what you wish to say as your comments/response. Firstly get in touch with the media outlet either by phoning or writing/faxing a letter. If you have phoned in, please note the name of the person whom you are talking to, the time of your call and the contents of your conversation. Be firm but polite in your complaints and do not let anger and emotions in throughout your discussions.

If the matter is not resolved to your satisfaction, call or write to your regional or National media regulatory body; nclude the details collected in step 1 above- and lodge a complaint with the duty officer, or complaint desk.

STEP THREE
It would also be effective to actually write to the relevant media organization stating the programme/show title, date, time and reason for complaining and also mentioning the step 2 that you have taken above.

STEP FOUR
Finally, contact MPAC at alert@mpac-ng.org to report the case detailing the outcome of the steps (1-3 above) that you have already taken.