Muslim media on the margins.

• Main Authors: Chen, Yanli., Li, Yulin., Nurshahisdah Mokhtar., Yap, Esther Chew Sia.
• Other Authors: Skoric, Marko
• Format: Final Year Project
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Mass media::Media law, ethics and policy
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/1167
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The diversification of the media landscape has brought about concerns that the use of specialised nonmainstream news channels by minority groups will lead to a fragmented national public sphere. This study serves as a starting point to examine the above concern by exploring Muslims’ usage of news sources in Singapore. Specifically, it attempts to find out the underlying factors associated with minority groups’ use of nonmainstream news sources. Focus groups revealed that media skepticism, identification, perceived insufficient coverage and perceived empathetic news perspective are possible reasons for Singaporean Muslims’ use of nonmainstream news. A follow-up national CATI survey of 432 Muslims found that only identification and perceived empathetic news perspective are significantly associated with the use of nonmainstream news. This exploratory study has provided some understanding of the factors associated with the use of nonmainstream news. Specifically, the negative association of identification with minorities’ use of nonmainstream news warrants further research. Our findings provide some insight for theorists who are concerned that consumption of news sources by minority groups will lead to a fragmented public sphere along religious and ethnic lines.