NEGATIVE IMAGE OF ISLAM AND US MASS MEDIA: HOW TO IMPROVE THE IMAGE OF ISLAM NAD MUSLIM COUNTRIES

Abstract

The study sheds light on brief history of Islam and Islamic world. It also slightly discusses that the confrontation between Islam and the West is not a new phenomenon. The history bears witness to the fact that the conflicts and military confrontation between West and Islam date back to the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the seventh century and run through the Byzantine empire, the crusades, the Spanish re-conquered, the fall of Constantinople, the eras of colonial and national independence, cold war era, post cold war era and above all, after the incident of 9/11. The last but not least it was suggested that Muslim world should develop and utilize presentational, representational and mechanical devices of communication in order to erase misgivings/misperceptions about Islam and Islamic world. By applying the communication devices, it would be possible for Muslim world to disseminate developmental and positive aspects of their respective region.