The increasing presence of media in our everyday life cannot be denied. It is not uncommon today to be watching TV while scrolling through the news on your smartphone or tablet with online streaming playing in the background. While digital media is overtaking print media, print media has been transitioning to electronic editions, and accessible technology has made such bridging easier.
Malcolm X once said, “The media is the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.” The role of media is being defined and redefined constantly as people around the world gain access to various types of media. The media has been applauded for promoting free speech and at the same time accused of inciting violence and spreading propaganda. It is a fine line that all media outlets, regardless of the audience, need to walk all the time.
The Miracle Media Group has been very conscious of this need for balance from day 1. Twenty years ago, the environment in which the newspaper was launched was quite different than today. This was pre-9/11, and the ideals on which the newspaper was founded were giving Muslims a voice in the mainstream through their own platform and promoting the community while bringing harmony among all communities in Canada.
Circumstances changed in less than a year and Muslims all over the world found themselves on the defence, protecting their families, fighting hate crimes, negative portrayals in the mainstream media while trying to increase the awareness about Islam and Muslims. At that time, the role of Muslim media become more pivotal than ever as it was incumbent on them to use all their means to combat the ignorance and discriminatory attitude of some powerful mainstream media. As Muslims are legally entitled to proceed in an organized manner to protect their faith, their media is equally entitled to publish literature to give the true picture to the public regardless of ethnicity, colour or creed. The fact is media is always bound by a code of ethics to continue as competitive and credible under all circumstances. A successful journalist has to be conscientious because presenting distorted facts is unethical and unlawful.
Fortunately, the Muslim media of today has genuine encouragement to become more and more assertive with an improved degree of confidence. In other words, they are more involved and getting closer to be competitive even in the commercially focused media market. Better late than never, the Muslims are comfortable troubleshooting the negative status quo through their own electronic and print media.
They are catching up gradually and hopefully would be able to free the Canadian audience of Islamophobia. Misreporting, exaggerating, or ignoring coverage for the Muslims did lead to the formation of such independent voices of the Muslim community through their own print and electronic media throughout Canada. Moreover, utilizing the Muslim-friendly apparatus, pro-Islamic media advocates may go ahead with repairing the tarnished image of Islam. Regularly airing the constructive interfaith dialogues can be further fruitful.
The Miracle Media Group has strived to uphold these ideals. While it has not been a perfect journey, we are constantly learning from our mistakes and building on our experiences. Over the past 20 years, the landscape has changed within the BC Muslim Community. The community has grown exponentially, and various media outlets are now representing the community and different viewpoints. In the spirit of unity and harmony, The BC Muslim Electronic and Print Media Think Tank formed a Canadian Muslim Media Club (CMMC) in 2019. The Miracle Media Group is one of its key members is committed to taking action.
As Muslim media reaches full force on daily basis, the Muslim youth would be encouraged to benefit, preserve, and strengthen their Islamic identity. In addition to the print media, a daily Muslim presence in the broadcast media and the internet would correct the anti-Islam feelings among non-Muslim Canadians. Today, we see Muslim female journalists like Ginella Massa on television, hosting a prime-time show on Canada’s own CBC and breaking the glass ceiling for Muslims, in particular, hijab-wearing Muslim sisters.
Progress cannot happen in a vacuum. The community continues to work together to strengthen its voice and representation in the media. Whether it is supporting through advertising in free newspapers, writing for a Muslim publication, or reading a newspaper and sharing your feedback and suggestions, we all have a part to play in strengthening Muslim Media. Meanwhile, Muslim media should continue to focus on achieving the goal of nation-building based on balanced truthful journalism on merit. Together, everything is possible.
Waan Laysa Lil Insana illa ma’ sa’aa
That man can have nothing but what he strives for.
By: Misbah Naseer
Thursday, April 23, 2026
