A study reveals that terror attacks by Muslims receive an average of 357 percent more news coverage than those by other groups.
Researchers at Georgia State University, in a study published in Justice Quarterly, found that religion is a significant predictor for the amount of coverage given to terror attacks. The study’s results were detailed in a report by Newsweek.
“Terrorist attacks often dominate news coverage as reporters seek to provide the public with information,” the study said. “Yet, not all incidents receive equal attention. Why do some terrorist attacks receive more media coverage than others? We argue that perpetrator religion is the largest predictor of news coverage, while target type, being arrested, and fatalities will also impact coverage.”
Researchers looked at 136 terror attacks in the U.S. between 2006 and 2015 and analyzed news coverage of them. While Muslims committed an average 12.5 percent, those incidents received half of all news coverage, according to the study.
“What was especially surprising was the sheer amount of coverage granted to the small handful of domestic terrorists who were both Muslim and from outside of the U.S.,” said Allison Betus, a presidential fellow working for Georgia State's Transcultural Conflict and Violent Extremism Initiative.
The study pointed out there were other factors that dictated coverage, as well, including the target and whether a suspect was arrested, which increased coverage by 287 percent on average.
Also playing a role in coverage was the number of fatalities.
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