Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jul 06, 2025

The Obsession That Could Divide: GB News and Its Singular Focus on UK Muslims

A new report reveals GB News’ disproportionate coverage of Muslim communities, raising concerns over media ethics and societal impact.
GB News stands at the epicenter of a fresh media controversy, accused of providing nearly half of the news coverage about Muslims in the United Kingdom within a two-year period, as unveiled by a detailed report from the Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM).

The research, which scrutinized the station’s editorial choices, calls attention to an excessive and predominantly negative focus on Muslim communities.

The report highlights the narrative framing by GB News, which allegedly portrays Islam as not only foreign but antithetical to the British way of life.

Analysts argue that such portrayal could exacerbate social rifts and potentially ignite unrest.

This sentiment was echoed by prominent figures such as Sayeeda Warsi and Stewart Purvis, who have suggested that the findings demand serious introspection from regulators like Ofcom.

One striking revelation is GB News’ staggering seventeen thousand mentions of Muslims or Islam, constituting almost half the coverage by UK news channels.

This is disproportionate compared to the BBC and Sky News.

The report implies that GB News focuses largely on domestic Muslim-related stories, in contrast to its competitors, where international contexts provide broader narratives.

Researchers also contend that the channel frequently casts Muslims as aggressors in societal conflicts—a charge brought to the fore during last summer’s riots, where GB News purportedly contributed to sixty-two percent of the news clips associating Muslims with disorder.

Critics argue that this narrative feeds into the dangerous trope of Muslims as an 'enemy within,' perpetuating Islamophobic stereotypes.

Lady Warsi condemned the pernicious implications of such media portrayals.

She asserts that these narratives dangerously resonate with far-right ideologies, reflected in the rise in anti-Muslim violence and hostility, challenging both the ethics of broadcasting and the resilience of multicultural Britain.

Stewart Purvis, a seasoned media executive, raises poignant questions regarding the regulatory landscape: Could Ofcom's deregulatory stance inadvertently embolden broadcasters to derogate ethnic minorities?

This pressing query underscores the vital role of media oversight in maintaining societal cohesion.

CfMM's director, Rizwana Hamid, remarked on the shift in their focus towards GB News, expressing concern over Ofcom's apparent reluctance to clamp down on harmful content that potentially sows discord.

She calls for stringent enforcement of broadcasting standards to prevent media platforms from being used as instruments of division.

Responding to the report, GB News contested the claims, arguing for their right to free speech and critiqued the study as a suppressive attempt by a group associated with the Muslim Council of Britain.

The channel's defense points to an ongoing tension between media responsibility and freedom of expression, highlighting the complex dynamic between maintaining editorial independence and adhering to moral accountability.

The unfolding debate touches upon the wider discourse on media representation and its influence on public perception.

As Britain grapples with these issues, the outcomes of this controversy may hold significant implications for the future of news broadcasting standards in a multicultural society.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
×