What do newspapers talk about when they talk about Muslims?

This chapter uses topic modeling analysis to show that newspapers cover Muslims differently depending on the geographic context in which the stories are set. Reporting on Muslim-majority countries varies from that on Muslim-minority countries, where stories are more likely to highlight separatism, militancy, and extremism. In contexts where Muslims have been victimized by non-Muslim groups, we see an emphasis on Muslims as a vulnerable group or simply as civilians. The inductive approach used in the chapter also reveals that approximately a third of all stories are not primarily associated with the major themes identified by previous research. While almost no topic related to Muslim coverage is positive, several of these themes are linked with far less negativity than others, suggesting pathways for journalists to pursue if they are seeking more balanced coverage of Muslims and Islam over the longer term.