Reza Aslan VS Corporate Media

**j3374** · 01-11-2015, 10:00 PM

How many of you are familiar with this author and academic?

Do you think our media influenced views on Islam is problematic? Are we fundamentally misinformed about a world influencing phenomenon?

Reza Aslan interviewed on FOX News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwWb...P0PGLqbySIg-ra

Aslan on CNN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzusSqcotDw

**Rida5d** · 01-12-2015, 03:05 AM

I'm familiar with that guy as I'm so much interested in the topic.
IMO, this guy is the voice of moderation , and speaks the language of lots of people in the other world , me included.
I saw the cnn vid only , will be back later to see the first one later on.

**j3374** · 01-12-2015, 11:59 AM

Rida, IMO, both interviews that I posted were hard for me to watch. The interviewers were both trying too hard to interject their own bias into the questioning. They kept asking the same thing over and over again. I felt like they were incapable of letting a perspective that contradicted their own views be heard. First, they invite him to their show based on his credentials and expertise- then they argue with him when journalism is supposed to be objective (unless it's an editorial or opinion piece).

It was a bit of a circus act to me, but I realize that my bias (as it does with everyone) distorts my own perception. Wanted to see what others saw too.

**Rida5d** · 01-12-2015, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by j3374

Rida, IMO, both interviews that I posted were hard for me to watch. The interviewers were both trying too hard to interject their own bias into the questioning. They kept asking the same thing over and over again. I felt like they were incapable of letting a perspective that contradicted their own views be heard. First, they invite him to their show based on his credentials and expertise- then they argue with him when journalism is supposed to be objective (unless it's an editorial or opinion piece).

It was a bit of a circus act to me, but I realize that my bias (as it does with everyone) distorts my own perception. Wanted to see what others saw too.

I totally agree.. I really don't trust media regarding this subject..
U should pass by Jordan and I ll show u what moderation is

Jordan and many other middle eastern countries ..
U know man what scares the most?
It's when there will be another hit from radicals..
The more this shit happens , the more the voice of moderation goes low , while voice of extremist gets higher ..
So sad..
I appreciate the vids u posted though.

**j3374** · 01-17-2015, 05:33 PM

Aslan on RT

**bartman314** · 01-18-2015, 03:56 PM

i took a "history of the bible" of the college course and heard exactly what this guy is saying. for me, aslan is right on.

**j3374** · 01-18-2015, 04:20 PM

His stance is certainly controversial. It's interesting for me to watch him interact with media. There's a pretty good mix of reactions.

**Metalject** · 01-18-2015, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by j3374

How many of you are familiar with this author and academic?

Do you think our media influenced views on Islam is problematic? Are we fundamentally misinformed about a world influencing phenomenon?

Reza Aslan interviewed on FOX News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwWb...P0PGLqbySIg-ra

Aslan on CNN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzusSqcotDw

The Fox interview, it's a pretty reasonable question IMO to ask why a muslim would want to write about christianity. As for the interviewer, Lauren Green, she's a religious news reporter, which largely surrounds opinion pieces, in fact, that's primarily what she does - that's her job.

The CNN interview, two interviewers who are primarily hard news anchors. However, anytime a hard news person goes beyond reporting and into discussing with an individual or panel, it is necessarily going to turn into opinion. I don't care what station this happens on, it will always happen and is 100% unavoidable. Hard opinion free news can only be done when an anchor or reporter is talking to the viewer with no panels or guest in a back and forth dialogue.

Reza Asian - there's nothing wrong with a muslim writing about other religious views, but the questions asked of him should be expected. It should also be expected that many do not consider academic theologians to be experts on their particular religion.
Equally important, Reza, like many others, refuses to accept a certain truth - when a reporter ask about violence in certain muslim countries, he always falls back on countries with a strong muslim population that have equality. However, he fully knows the questions refer to muslim states - big difference. People like to point out these heavily populated muslim countries that aren't muslim states as a means to diminish otherwise valid questions (Jordan often being the primary example of this).

As for the OP question, sure the media affects how we see many things. Most media today, however, gives us what we already want - it's presented in a way that fits our desires. However, there are certain things that are so big that the media cannot shape the event significantly. Take for example 9/11, while some blogs created a lot of conspiracy theories, what happened that day cannot be distorted. However, the perception of why it happened or what has happened since can be distorted in the aftermath.

The biggest factor, most seem to have a very difficult time distinguishing hard news from opinionated discussion on a news program or even hard news and editorial pieces in print. That's the real problem, not the news itself. Yes, certain new organizations choose not to cover certain stories due to their own agendas and the appeal of their viewers and readers i.e. The IRS, Fast and Furious, Benghazi Libya, etc. but that's a different argument.

**lovbyts** · 01-18-2015, 11:58 PM

You mean like most news stations have not and will not cover the fact that we already have Muslim no go zones here in the US. Fox is the only one who has brought this to light. France has many of them and they acknowledged finally this is a big problem since they are harboring and training terrorist there.

**j3374** · 01-19-2015, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by lovbyts

You mean like most news stations have not and will not cover the fact that we already have Muslim no go zones here in the US. Fox is the only one who has brought this to light. France has many of them and they acknowledged finally this is a big problem since they are harboring and training terrorist there.

**j3374** · 01-19-2015, 06:35 PM

**j3374** · 01-19-2015, 06:35 PM

**Metalject** · 01-19-2015, 07:08 PM

Video one: Anchor openly admits mistakes in statements were made.

Video two: Anchor says some markings on the map were incorrect.

Video three: Anchor says a guest made an incorrect statement.

How are these video examples a bad thing? Do you not want your news outlets to admit when they've made a mistake? Do we expect our news outlets not to make mistakes? Do we expect our news outlets to only allow people on their shows who never misspeak? To accomplish the latter, you'd have to hold a mock interview, fact check all statements and then repeat the interview...basically, you could just tell the guy what to say and have him read a teleprompter.

It seems these videos were posted in an effort to diminish Fox but if anything, they only support the network's validity and professionalism.

**j3374** · 01-19-2015, 07:39 PM

I never claimed that FOX, as a network, was completely invalid. Not sure where you read that I said that. My point was in response to the "Muslim No-go zones" being misinformation. French and British media & politicians basically proved this to be a lie. I didn't say that other News sources didn't make mistakes also. Do you think you're being a little bit defensive in favor of FOX News?

**lovbyts** · 01-20-2015, 12:28 AM

Because someone went overboard with a statement saying the whole city was a no go zone does not mean he or they are entirely wrong.

I know people from the UK who have been telling me for years how it's going to hell in a hand-basket. How the government is over run by Muslim and there are in fact many areas where non Muslim dare not go.