Islamism, Islamists and Islamisation
Reader comment on item: Is the Solution to Hire More Muslim Journalists?

Submitted by Norma Fares (Lebanon), Mar 9, 2008 at 16:00

Is the solution to hire more Muslim journalists? [like in any successful company] In the world of Media, journalism in particular, hiring on religion, race, color...basis is not the solution. But the vision --or how a journalist sees the [conflict of the] world-- is undoutedly not only the solution but simply the proper way to do things right and rightly.

I think that the question that is excellently tackled in this article by Dr. Pipes, is not about Muslim or Islam but about Islamism and Islamists and [the vision of] Islamisation of countries that believe in diversity like America and Europe. [environemental] Fanatism or a one-sided-eye that might be found at a journalist could present a serious threat that will, with no doubt, attack the core of journalism i.e. Objectivity, Honesty and Neutrality. These three most important criterion do not have to be in [Muslim or] any particular religion to tackle topics that find interests at readers like Islam, Jihad, veil...But Islamists-journalists cannot have them.

Mastering or at least knowing the language of Islamism i.e. Arabic is an important asset that help a Media firm to choose/hire the right person who [if not believes] can honestly reflect the mission and vission of the employer i.e. Media firm in our case. At the right place is another imporant part of the hiring process.

Media and journalism have place --not for everyboy or anybody-- but for journalists who understand well and know how to respect their profession. Islamism is one of the global worries, not only at the west but at the moderate Muslim nations in the heart of the Arab world as well.

Therefore, I think that awarness (instead of testing, risking and "why not?") is most needed nowadays everywhere, in America and Europe in particular. As a Media person, believer in diversity, I urge Media firms not to discriminate but to protect journalism from some outsiders who, by ignorance maybe, could empty this valuable profession from its very core of values: Objectivity, Honesty and Neutrality that make a news closest to Truth.

I speak, read and write Arabic. Would the Washington Post hire more Muslim journalists as a solution?!?

Good article Dr. Pipes. Thank you.

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