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Joan McAlpine picks up on the issue of there not being enough Muslims in Scottish newsrooms. Whose fault is it?

So what of the Scottish media? I believe it will have learned from this sorry tale. It will be reminded of the need to "assume nothing" and ensure basic fact-checking, something that requires the manpower to canvass a wide variety of sources. The media must also improve and extend its links with the Muslim community at every level. This point is made by Osama Saeed, whose blog – www.osamasaeed.org – offers an interesting Islamic perspective on a range of current events.

Mr Saeed, a man with whom I am not always in agreement, asks why more Muslims do not work in the Scottish media. He argues that this would improve public understanding of bigger international issues, not just this particular family tragedy. Too often, white journalists simply parachute into communities after, say, a terror raid. They ask the same old questions, then leave – often none the wiser. They miss the complexities and variety of opinion that will exist among Muslims, just as with any other group. So reactionary sections of the media can paint the entire community as sympathetic to terrorists. Or we have the politically-correct tendency, which repeats the mantra that Islam has nothing to do with terrorism and every detained man is a victim of injustice. Neither position is particularly helpful, subtle or intelligent.

The lack of Asian reporters is not, however, a simple matter of overt discrimination. I have read the CVs of many budding young journalists over the years – I can think of very few from Scotland's Asian community. They do not come forward. Is this because they fail to apply for the media courses that feed newspapers, radio and television? If so,why?

Do they view the media, like the police or the army, as "not for them". Perhaps it's time the media tried to find out, and – as with the police and army – attempted to do something about it. It would increase the authority of our journalism – and prevent future embarrassment.

Comments

[Shavez]

Why is it that whenever someone agrees with a Muslim, they need to preface it with "someone I don't always agree with".

I would have thought that to be plaintively obvious. Who ever agrees with somebody on everything?

[SL]

It is the fault of the Muslims themselves that there's no one in the media.

The writer in her article says she would not live in Pakistan because of restricted sexual freedom. Too much information!

[Sohaib]

Well Osama, I don't always agree with you, but well done! The feature yesterday by Neil McKay Herald was also a must-read:

http://www.sundayherald.com/57724

[Sohaib]

Sorry, his name is Neil Mackay, not "Neil McKay Herald"...

[joan mcalpine]

Lighten up Shavez, you sound a touch paranoid. I may disagree with Osama but that's got nothing to do with his religion. And I directed readers to his site so they could make up their own minds. SL is also twisting what I said about Pakistan. You can read the full column on my blog.

[bob]

The guardian tried to hide his thread. Peres is on comment is free
and he's being abused by everyone:)

[Angus McFalane]

I wonder how many Muslims would be appropriate to work in newsrooms? As far as I know Mulims make up less than 1.8% of the Brittish population (almost all living in small exclusive areas of cities). So statistically I think we have probably exceeded the appropriate number in the newsroom already.