Islam in the Russian Media

Abstract

Islam, the second-largest religion (after Orthodoxy) in terms of clergy in Russia, seems to be quite a popular topic in the modern Russian media. Therefore, the task of understanding the information provided is not only relevant nowadays but inevitably puts some pivotal questions on the agenda: Does this context meet public demand? What approaches do the Russian media take in their coverage of this religion? These questions have made writing this article a priority. Along with the situation with the Muslim population of Russia, the author explores the historical evolution of the Muslim press in Russia over the course of a few centuries. The current media focus on Muslim territories is also considered. On the one hand, Islam has traditionally been among the media’s interests, but on the other hand, the specifics of relations between authorities and the media define the quality of the information provided. This dualistic media approach to Islam was inherited from past information priorities and continues today. In order to envisage the position of the media in this regard, the author carefully investigates the politics of three leading Russian television channels, Channel 1, Rossiya-1, and NTV, all of which regularly cover this subject, particularly in their news programs. Sorting through empirical examples, the author comes to the conclusion that problematic aspects of the topic are not covered by the media. This negatively affects the media content and clashes with journalistic principles. The analysis offers an opportunity to make prognoses about the media’s future position on Islam.