Invitation to attend Reporting Islam workshop on “Covering a Mosque Proposal” at Murdoch University on Tuesday, March 22.

Funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s office, via the Queensland Police Service, for independent Griffith University journalism academics to develop resources and training materials to assist journalists with their coverage of stories involving Islam and Muslim communities in the mainstream media.

Reporting Islam – covering a mosque proposal

This workshop mainly covers both the cultural and ethical dimensions of covering a story related to Islam and Muslim people, with some reference to laws of racial discrimination and vilification. It starts by introducing some basic understandings of Islam as a religion and the demographics, beliefs and customs of Muslim people in Australia. Basic terms are explained by a Muslim trainer who also fields questions about the religion and its practices. The scenario then draws upon that knowledge, positioning participants as reporters for a local news outlet in Yourtown (radio, television or print with a strong online presence). Yourtown has a population of 32,000, of whom 942 identified as Muslim at the last Census. There is a development application to the Yourtown Council for the establishment of the town’s first mosque with two 22m high minarets. The scenario proceeds to coverage of a protest at the proposed site of the mosque where about 20 people have gathered, carrying placards and yelling. Paricipants are provided with photographs / footage / actuality of the protest and are tasked in small groups to plan their coverage of this story as if it has been selected as the main news item of the day, taking into account their learning from the first part of the session.

RSVP: Please indicate your availability by March 17 to Mr Abdi Hersi, Reporting Islam Project Manager, email: a.hersi@griffith.edu.au