Publication:
Hierarchy of Influences in Reporting Religious Conflicts in Malaysian Media

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Abstract

Religion often serves as a sensitive element in a plural society like Malaysia due to its deeply held beliefs, cultural significance, and potential for conflict. In such society where multiple religions coexist, differences in religious beliefs, practices, and values may lead to tensions and challenges in maintaining peace and harmony in the country. This study explores the reporting of religion conflicts in Malaysian newspapers using the Hierarchy of Influences Model by Shoemaker and Reese. Malaysia’s diverse society often sees religious conflicts covered extensively, reflecting a complex interplay of influences of journalistic practices. This model provides a holistic framework, considering individual, organizational, extra-media, ideological, and societal levels. Individual factors such as journalists’ beliefs and norms influence their reporting decisions. Organizational factors like editorial policies and resource constraints also shape coverage. External influences. Including government regulations and societal expectations, add pressure to the reporting. Ideological influences from political and religious ideologies affect how conflicts ae portrayed. Societal factors such as public opinion and historical contexts contribute to the framing. This research employs a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews with the 10 journalists and editors of Utusan Malaysia, The Star, Berita Harian and The News Straits Times newspapers. By understanding these influences through a thematic analysis, the study aims to offer insights into media representations, ethics, and interreligious dynamics in multicultural societies, fostering informed discussions on conflict resolution.

Description

E-Proceeding of 4th International Conference on Islam, Media and Communication (ICIMac 2024): “Communication & Digitisation in Madani Society”/ Muhammad Raqib Mohd Sofian, , Siti Suriani Othman, Safiyyah Sabri, Osama Kanaker & Ihab Ahmed Ra’uf Awais. 5th March 2024 Organized by : Faculty of Leadership & Management

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Muhammad Raqib Mohd Sofian, Siti Suriani Othman, Safiyyah Sabri, Osama Kanaker, & Ihab Ahmed Ra’uf Awais (Eds.). (2024). In 4th International Conference on Islam, Media and Communication (ICIMac 2024) (pp. 1–501).