Reporting Islam and Muslim Communities in Europe

How do British Muslims feel they are represented by mainstream UK media? How do they interact with British society in the areas of education, politics and culture? And how have they been affected by recent terrorist attacks in London, New York and beyond?

Answers to these questions, and many more, can be found in British Muslims: Media Guide, by Ehsan Masood, which is published by Counterpoint, the British Council’s think-tank on cultural relations.

There are almost 2 million Muslims living in Britain today, half of whom are aged under 25. Hailing from countries as far flung as Bosnia, Bangladesh and Nigeria, and speaking over 50 languages, they comprise one of Britain’s most ethnically diverse faith groups, whose influence is felt in every area of British life, from education, business and politics, to sport, entertainment, arts and culture.

British Muslims: Media Guide is a clear, dispassionate explanation of who British Muslims are, what they care about and what they do. Co-published with the Association of Muslim Social Scientists, it provides succinct information, as well as a directory of contacts in Muslim organisations.

Intended as a reference source and training tool for young journalists, British Muslims: Media Guide will also prove an invaluable resource to anyone who writes about, speaks about, or interacts with Muslims, both in Britain and abroad. It is published in the belief that a detailed understanding of communities within British society gives us a fuller and more accurate picture of Britain, its faiths and cultures.

British Muslims: Media Guide was launched in the UK by Asad Ahmad and Roger Hardy of the BBC at London’s City Hall on Monday, 22 May 2006. See below for details of the Brussels launch.

Who is the author?
Ehsan Masood is a writer and journalist based in London. He has a fortnightly column in www.opendemocracy.net and also writes for Nature, New Scientist and Prospect magazines. His latest books are Dry: Life Without Water (Harvard University Press 2006) and How Do You Know: Reading Ziauddin Sardar on Islam, Science and Cultural Relations (Pluto Press 2006). He is the author of Trust Me I'm British: Britain and its Muslim Audiences in the Post 9/11 World, also published by the British Council.

Brussels book launch and seminar
Journalists and young Muslims from five EU countries will take a critical look at faith reporting, in partnership with the Federation of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations, the European Policy Centre and King Baudouin Foundation. The morning workshop (closed to the public) will be followed by an open discussion in the afternoon. If you are interested in attending the open discussion in the afternoon, please contact laura.citron@britishcouncil.be.

Date: 14 September
Location: British Council Brussels
Contact: laura.citron@britishcouncil.be