How to Promote MSG-I
The greatest success for the Global Media Style Guide on Islam (MSG-I) is in its adoption, use and scale. Here is a guide on how to promote the use of MSG-I, firstly what to always do when conducting outreach to media, policymakers and academics about the topic of Islam and Muslims; what to do proactively in a general use; and what to do in specific instances, reacting to negative or positive use.
1. ALWAYS:
* Start by thanking them for their consideration and their courtesy in choosing to represent Islam and Muslims accurately and authentically.
*Share with them that the definitions used in the MSG-I are enhancements of the global media style guides for Reuters and Associated Press (AP).
* Close by thank them once again and ask them to contact MSG-I if they have any further questions or suggestions.
2. GENERAL USE – PROACTIVE OUTREACH
* Write to the media, policymakers and academics who are writing about Islam and Muslims to advise they use MSG-I in their work to ensure Islam and Muslims are portrayed accurately and authentically.
3. SPECIFIC INSTANCE – REACTION TO NEGATIVE USE
* Someone uses a term which is not regarded as representative of Islam or Muslims such as ‘Islamist terrorist’ or ‘jihadi’.
* Share with them the link to MSG-I’s term on ‘jihadi’, explaining why this term should not be used and what term should be used.
4. SPECIFIC INSTANCE – REACTION TO POSITIVE USE
* Someone uses a term which is regarded as representative of Islam or Muslims in a positive way, maybe using the term ‘Sunnah’ or praising Islam the faith of a fourth of humanity.
* Share with them the link to MSG-I, either as a whole or a relevant term, suggesting they share it with others like them who want to accurately and authentically represent Islam.
