Loststories

Picture credit: Getty images In psychology, the All-or-Nothing cognitive bias causes the mind to perceive things in extremes. Situations and people are seen in black or white, good or evil. This All-or-Nothing bias is often reflected in media coverage about Muslims. A recent example is the Tablighi Jamaat incident. “In the whole event Tablighi Jamaat and the administration were equally at fault,” states Delhi-based journalist, Aliza Noor. She notes that without detailing the chronology of events or presenting multiple perspectives about the incident, TV channels started communalizing it. “When you’re misreporting and demonizing an entire community for something a handful of people of that community have done, there are more damages done because firstly you divert from the whole issue, you don’t focus on the facts at all and that provides ground for justifying your bias and bigotry against that community,” she adds. Noor also feels that lack of reporting is a ma...