New Zealand Media Constructions of Islam and Muslims

344 Pages·2014·2.21 MB·English

New Zealand Media Constructions of
Islam and Muslims: An Analysis of
Selected Newspapers Between 2005-
2006

Shah Md Nister Jahan Kabir

A thesis submitted for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
at the University of Otago
New Zealand

2013

i
Statement of Originality

I declare that the work presented in this thesis, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, is original and my own work, except as acknowledged in the text. This thesis
has not been submitted either in whole or in part, for a degree at this or any other
university.

Shah Md Nister Jahan Kabir
PhD candidate
Department of Media, Film and Communication
University of Otago

ii
Acknowledgements

I am grateful to many people in many capacities. I would like to express my deep
appreciation to them. First, I would like to thank my supervisors Dr Michael Bourk,
and Professor Geoff Craig for their suggestions, co-operation and understanding. I
owe a great deal to them. Dr. Michael Bourk’s support and understanding towards me
has been unparalleled. He is my primary supervisor. The thesis would not have been
possible without my supervisors’ continuous suggestions and understanding. I
appreciate the support, co-operation and suggestion that Professor Geoff Kearsley
provided. He was in my supervisory panel before his retirement. Outside my
supervisory panels I have received generous help, inspiration, suggestion and co-
operation from a number of people especially from Dr Vijay Devadas, Dr Brett
Nicholls, Dr. Hugh Slotten, Professor Hilary Radner and many more. I thank Sally
Milner, David Hoskins and Christine Daviault, and Maureen Lloyd and Paulette
Milnes. My deep appreciation is also due to the three examiners of my thesis and the
convener for their valued comments, suggestion and patience.

Very special thanks to Rebecca Kambuta and Febriani Idrus for their extraordinary
co-operation and understanding. They kindly read my drafts and made suggestions.
Their critical comments were very helpful for me in clarifying my thinking and
writing.
I am happy with the Department of Media, Film and Communication and the
University of Otago, which has supplied me with all the facilities that were very
important to me as a research student.
iii
I would like to apologize to Dr Ndaeyo Uko of Monash University, Australia. He was
waiting to be my prospective supervisor and I was also interested in pursuing my PhD
under his care. Monash University offered me the IPRS scholarship in 2009 but I had
to decline as I had already enrolled at the University of Otago. Dr Uko said he was
sad to hear my decision (it was sad for me too! But the question was of ethics –
whether I should leave this University after receiving funds). We had long
conversations about our projects before starting at this university. I miss his
suggestions.
My family and I have received help and support from many friends and well-wishers
during our stay in New Zealand including Associate Professor M. Alauddin, Dr Obaid
Hamid and his family in Australia (I miss you a lot!), Dr. Dewar Akbar and his family
(in Australia), Dr. Robiul Islam and his family (in Australia), Dr Jaforullah and Rosy
Jaforullah, Mohibul Alam (Liton) and his family, Rieko Hayakawa and her family. I
thank Tanveer Ahmed, Akter Jahan, and Mashihur Rahman in Bangladesh. My deep
appreciation to the Basquin family (of Brighton, Dunedin, New Zealand) and very
special thanks are due to Jeannine Basquin and Anne Marie Basquin (we owe a lot to
the Basquin family).

During my study I lost my father. After finishing my MPhil from the University of
Queensland he advised me not to give up and to try for a PhD, and said education in a
Western nation is “really important”. He wanted my PhD to be from a Western
University. I hear his calm but strong voice repeatedly (yes, still he is talking from
somewhere!) but miss the person. I have lost many more things in his death.

iv
Journal articles published during candidature

1. Shah N. Kabir & Michael Bourk (2012). “Representing Islam and Muslims in
New Zealand Newspapers”. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 32(3).

2. Shah N. Kabir (2010). “Representation of the Hezbollah-Israel conflict 2006: A
Case Study of a Mainstream Newspaper Published in New Zealand”. Journal of Mass
Communication, 4(1).

3. Shah N. Kabir (2010), “Representation of French Muslim Minorities in a New
Zealand Newspaper”. Journal of the South East Asia Research Centre for
Communications and Humanities, 2(1).

v
Dedication

This work is dedicated to:

Shameema Khanom

and

Shah Muhammad Fuwad Fahiyen Kabir

vi
Abstract

This study investigates the representation of Islam and Muslims in three New Zealand
newspapers—the Otago Daily Times (ODT), The Press (Press) and The New Zealand
Herald (NZH)—in order to identify how Islam and Muslims are socially constructed
in these newspapers’ frames. The investigation includes news and non-news items.
News coverage, which is primarily sourced from international news agencies, is
supportive towards Western elite agendas when framing the issue. Discursive analysis
shows that the news stories appearing in these newspapers maintain uniformity
towards the dominant Western elite policy in framing Islam and Muslims’ issues, and
present a predominantly negative image of Islam and Muslims. However, a pluralistic
frame is identified in these newspapers’ opinion items, like their editorials. The ODT
is primarily positive in its opinion pieces when discussing and constructing Islam and
Muslims’ issues. Similarly, a positive image of Islam and Muslims is predominant in
the opinion pieces appearing in the NZH. In other words, the representation of opinion
pieces appearing in the NZH, with a few exceptions, contradicts the international
news frame. On the other hand, opinions appearing in the Press construct
overwhelmingly negative images of Islam and Muslims. In other words, the negative
stereotypical images of Islam and Muslims in the Press are reinforced in both news
and opinion pieces.

vii
Table of Contents

Title page i
Statement of originality ii
Acknowledgement iii
Journal article published during candidature v
Dedication vi
Abstract vii

Chapter 1: Introduction

Introduction 11
Identity and Opposition 17
Journalism in post-9/11 20
Muslims in New Zealand 25
New Zealand Newspapers 27
Research Questions 30
Significance of the Study 32
Organization of the Thesis 34

Chapter 2: Discursive Factors: Socio-cultural Apparatus Influences
Media Production
Introduction 37
Orientalism 39
The Formation of ‘Us’ vs. ‘Them’ Narrative 42
“Clash of Culture/Clash of Civilizations” and News Media 47
Hegemony: Domination of the Ruling Elites 49
Gatekeeping in Media 56
Agenda Setting 63
Framing the News 64
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International News Agencies 68
Summary 72

Chapter 3: Methodology

Introduction 73
Quantitative Method 74
Content Analysis 76
Qualitative Analysis 77
Discourse Analysis 78
Time Frame 83
Selection of the Newspapers 84
Unit of Analysis 84
Categorization and Coding Process 85
Summary 92

Chapter 4: Covering Islam and Muslims in New Zealand

Newspapers: Statistical Findings 93

Number of Stories 96
Western Nations’ Involvement 100
Regional Attention 104
Muslim and non-Muslim Nations are both Important 107
Terrorism is the Main Issue 108
Identifying Islamic Groups 112
Hard News and Soft News 113
Graphic Content: Non-Muslim Leaders Preferred 115
News Sources: Official Voices are Preferred 117
Context and Topic of the Coverage of Islam and Muslims 119
Front-page Coverage 119
Crisis Events in Hard News 121
Relying on Western Agencies 123
Opinion Pieces 126
Editorial Cartoons 129
ix
Local news in New Zealand 132
Freedom of Expression: The Controversial Cartoon Affair 134
The Six Dominant Issues 135
Summary 137

Chapter 5: Framing Islam and Muslims in Three New Zealand
Newspapers
Introduction 141
The Middle East Military Conflicts 143
The Muhammad Cartoon Controversy 170
The Iran Nuclear Issue 204
Representing the 2006 Palestinian Election 228
Aircraft Terror Plot in Britain 246
The 2005 Bali Bombing 259

Chapter 6: Conclusion 273

References 286

Appendix 332

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