Issue 3 - Do Media Represent Realistic Images of Arabs?

Issue three poses the question, do U.S. media present Arabs in a negative light, causing citizens to stereotype and come to unfair conclusions about the race? Currently due to social media and blogging the answer is becoming more debated. Post September 11th American news quickly associated the terrorist attach with Muslims. Many Americans were quick to profile anyone of Arab decent as Muslim and many became victim of assault and harassment. Writers Gal Beckerman and Jack Shaheen make different points about the perception of Americans and the way the media presents information on Arabs.

"Gal Beckerman discusses how Arab bloggers from the middle east are challenging popular stereotypes of Arab and middle eastern culture." The effect of blogging and social media by groups that are being oppressed and stereotyped has been positive and revolutionary. Examples of the positive influence of social media are popping up all over the web lately. The revolution in Egypt, the civil war and over throwing of Gaddafi in Libya, a revolution in Tunisia, civil uprising in Syria and Yemen, and protests in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco and Oman all happened within the last year. The ability to organized, communicate, and execute was enhanced by the ability of oppressed and stereotyped groups to communicate through the internet. At the same time the personal messages and video posts can be seen globally and a better understanding is granted to the viewers of another country. I believe that the current state of stereotypes among Arabs has subsided significantly due to the innovation of social media and the ability for personal thought and feelings to be projected globally.

Jack Shaheen discusses the image of Arabs in film and T.V. and Hollywood's influence on society's politics and it's citizens. He also discusses the perception shift of Americans on Muslims and Arab Americans post september 11th. The ability of the news and other media outlets to stereotype groups is real and has happened repeatedly over time. I believe that the Information Society will allow Americans to see issues of discrimination from more points of view, in order to make a supported opinion regarding their feelings.