religious extremism
What to know
Religious extremism refers to taking extreme interpretations of religious tenets and may involve using violence to try to spread those beliefs. It is often portrayed as a form of religious fundamentalism. Note that some forms of extremism are not overtly religious, but instead align with ideologies such as white supremacy.
Media coverage of extremists often reinforces stereotypes of attackers. Studies show, for instance, that terrorist attacks by Muslims receive more coverage than other forms of extremism (even though the FBI in 2021 said the gravest domestic terrorism threat was from white supremacists). The trope of the “Muslim” or “Islamist extremist” is sometimes referenced as a blueprint for how fundamentalist and extremist groups operate. This stereotype plays into Islamophobic prejudices and unfairly establishes Islamic fundamentalism as being more widespread or influential than other forms of fundamentalism.
Various organizations suggest that journalists and newsrooms play a role in shaping how extremism is perpetuated through media. The National Press Foundation recommends that reporters not share writings, photos, or videos of extremist actors, but give only enough information about attackers to inform the public. Journalists can instead focus coverage on victims of extremist attacks. The foundation also recommends choosing descriptive but not sensationalized headlines to avoid fueling extremist causes through repeating their ideas.
Journalists might consider contextualizing and paraphrasing quotes from extremists in order to avoid unintentional recruitment for extremist groups. While a writer might feel that a particular quote from an extremist is self-evidently harmful and objectionable, some readers might be attracted to these ideas, trace them back to the group, and become radicalized. The Journalist’s Resource recommends that news outlets might even take “strategic silence” — avoiding covering events about certain extremist activity — in order not to play into the agendas of far-right extremists who rely on media coverage to spread their messages. Familiarizing yourself with organizations that advocate on behalf of communities that are often targeted by extremists and telling their stories is another way to shift attention away from attackers to victims.
Additional resources
- Hate in the Headlines: Journalism & the Challenge of Extremism (PEN America)
- Covering extremism: a reading list (First Draft)
- Reporting on extremism, from those who have done it best (Columbia Journalism Review)
- Reporting Locally on Domestic Extremism? Here’s How to Not Platform Their Violence, A Case Study (100 Days in Appalachia)
Summary
Religious extremism refers to taking extreme interpretations of religious tenets and may involve using violence to try to spread those beliefs. Note that some forms of extremism are not overtly religious, but instead align with ideologies such as white supremacy. Journalists can use several tactics to avoid amplifying and reinforcing extremist messaging, such as focusing on the victims of attacks, avoiding sensationalized headlines, and even practicing “strategic silence” — avoiding covering events about certain extremist activity.