Working in Islamic media: press, online and publishing

News websites, magazines, specialist journals, publishing houses, newsletters: media devoted to Islam and Muslims form a small sector, but a lively one that is constantly evolving. It covers community news as well as accessible religious explainers, Islamic finance, culture, food and parenting.

These media offer openings for journalists, writers, translators, proofreaders and editors who want to put their skills at the service of a Muslim readership or of readers curious about Islam. This page presents writing and publishing jobs; video and audio production is covered on the page about Islamic audiovisual production.

Overview of the sector

Several families of players can be distinguished:

• online news outlets covering Muslim affairs in Europe and around the world;
• themed magazines, devoted for example to family life, modest fashion or halal consumption;
• specialist publications on Islamic finance or the halal economy, aimed at professionals;
• religious publishers, which publish translations of the Qur'an, works of jurisprudence, biographies and children's books;
• mainstream media that recruit journalists specialising in religious affairs.

Most organisations are small and work with a small team and freelancers. The large mainstream media remain an important outlet for journalists who specialise in religion.

Editorial jobs

Journalist and writer

They investigate, interview and write articles, profiles and in-depth features. In a community outlet, they often cover a very wide range of subjects: associations, social debates, business initiatives, culture. Rigorous fact-checking matters all the more because subjects related to Islam provoke strong reactions.

Sub-editor and editor-in-chief

The sub-editor proofreads, writes headlines, corrects and formats content. The editor-in-chief sets the editorial line, decides which stories to run and takes responsibility for what is published.

Web writer and community manager

They optimise content for search engines, run social media and moderate comments. Moderation is a real job in this sector, where discussions can quickly become heated.

Publishing jobs

Publisher and series editor

They select manuscripts, oversee their preparation and build a coherent list. In religious publishing, they often need texts to be checked by recognised specialists.

Translator

Translation from Arabic, and sometimes from English, Turkish or Urdu, is central to Islamic publishing. It requires both linguistic and religious expertise, because the technical terms of fiqh and theology do not always have a simple equivalent. The page on careers using Arabic develops this point.

Proofreader, layout artist, sales and distribution

Proofreaders, graphic designers, layout artists and sales staff who deal with bookshops complete the book chain.

Skills and training

Journalism schools and master's programmes in journalism teach the core of the profession: writing techniques, ethics, media law and investigation. Degrees in literature, languages or political science also lead to journalism and publishing. For the religious specialism, training in Islamic sciences or the history of religions is a real asset.

Recruiters particularly value:

• clear, error-free writing;
• the ability to explain religious concepts to a non-specialist audience;
• a command of web tools, SEO and social media;
• knowledge of Arabic, useful for sources and translations;
• a network of contacts in community organisations and institutions.

Questions of permissibility and professional ethics

According to the widely shared view of scholars, journalistic and editorial work is lawful in itself. The questions concern content: spreading rumours, backbiting, defamation, advertising for forbidden products or interest-bearing loans. In the Muslim tradition, verifying information and speaking truthfully are central values, which match the rules of journalistic ethics.

Advertising is a frequent question: an outlet may turn down certain advertisers to stay consistent with its editorial line. For an employee of a mainstream outlet, the page on indirect participation in a forbidden activity helps think through borderline situations. For a specific case, ask a qualified scholar.

Daily life in a newsroom

In a small newsroom, the day begins with monitoring: wire stories, social media, press releases from associations and official publications. The team chooses the stories to cover, shares out the interviews and sets publication times. A writer might cover the opening of a cultural centre in the morning, interview a researcher about the history of Islam in Europe in the afternoon and finish by editing an opinion piece. In the evening, the community manager keeps an eye on reactions and moderates comments. In a publishing house, the pace is slower: a translated book can take several months between translation, scholarly review, proofreading and layout.

Status, freelancing and outlook

Many writers work freelance, combining several commissions. In France, the press card is awarded on the basis of income earned from journalism; other countries have their own systems. Income from small outlets is often modest and irregular, which encourages people to diversify: copywriting for brands, translation, communications for associations.

Editorial skills can later be put to use in communications for Islamic brands, teaching or research. For an overall view, see the list of halal jobs.