Two sites in particular are worth examining: alt.muslim.com, and their colleagues at Muslim Wake Up!. (Disclosure: I had done some freelance volunteer non-compensated editing for the latter last spring).
alt.muslim is more of a "hard news" site, with editors in San Francisco, London and New York, keeping tabs on issues and developments throughout the Muslim world. In their words:
We've designed this website to be an interactive news and discussion forum that helps promote a critical (and self-critical) analysis of issues regarding the Muslim community. Our editors provide brief overviews of issues affecting the Muslim world, along with extended commentary and discussion on a variety of topics, all designed to foster a community of people who want to become more informed and involved in the world around them.
We strive to provide an outlet for the following:
- Objective analysis using multiple sources of information and multiple viewpoints
- Attention to stories that are normally ignored by both the Muslim and western media
- An emphasis on introspection in order to challenge all of us to better our communities
- A sense of civility, humor and wit (well, this is entirely subjective!)
I'd say their analysis is more balanced rather than objective, as the site is by its nature filtered from an Islamic perspective (although a refreshingly modern one), but the analysis and commentary they do provide is intellectually sound and careful to consider all the viewpoints involved.
As promised, they are not without their humor - check out the little separator bar that changes on each refresh, with various self-descriptions for the site: 'cleared by airport security!', 'fatwas pending', 'member, axis of good', 'no assets to freeze', 'indefintely detained' or 'Your mysterious neighbors', among others.
An interesting current piece is the upcoming Brass Crescent Awards, where readers can vote on the merits of various Islamic blogs:
Today, the Islamsphere is forging a new synthesis of Islam and modernity, and is the intellectual heir to the traditions of philosophy and learning that was once the hallmark of Islamic civilization - a heritage scarcely recognizable today in the Islamic world after a century's ravages of colonialism, tyrants, and religious fundamentalism....
Categories include best overall, most articulate and well reasoned, best single posting, best new blog, best non-English blog, best Iraqi blog, etc.
I 'd need a day to go visit all these blogs, but I think the reading and perspectives will be very very interesting.
Muslim wake up! is a good deal more raw and edgy. It takes both professional and non-professional submissions of all kinds, and the reads are heartfelt, interesting, and full of real experience on real issues. While both sites have commenting available, MWU's seems to be more active and vigorous.
Their description:
Muslim WakeUp! seeks to bring together Muslims and non-Muslims in America and around the globe in efforts that celebrate cultural and spiritual diversity, tolerance, and understanding. Through online and offline media, events, and community activities, Muslim WakeUp! champions an interpretation of Islam that celebrates the Oneness of God and the Unity of God’s creation through the encouragement of the human creative spirit and the free exchange of ideas, in an atmosphere that is filled with compassion and free of intimidation, authoritarianism, and dogmatism. In all its activities, Muslim WakeUp! attempts to reflect a deep belief in justice and against all forms of oppression, bigotry, sexism, and racism.
They have been threatened and hacked by Muslim fundamentalists, and have called to task more mainstream American Muslim institutions such as CAIR on various issues. Even their humor pieces can raise hackles: an irreverent riff on CAIR from one of the writersdidn't go over well.
One of the most courageous and controversial sections on the site is "Sex and the Umma",a sex column, with additional related articles on sexuality and reproductive health issues in the Muslim world. To even acknowledge the existence of gay and lesbian Muslims, for example - let alone documenting their concerns - is an extremely brave journalistic stance.
The two sites are different enough in tone and approach to provide a good composite picture of modern progressive Islamic journalism. They are great examples of participatory journalism techniques in place, serving their community.
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