(Miami, FL 08/23/2019) – The South Florida Muslim Federation and its members met with the Editorial Board, Managing Editor of the Miami Herald and WLRN Public Radio to discuss media coverage of the South Florida Muslim community. During the meeting, the Miami Herald, WLRN and the South Florida Muslim community opened lines of communication that did not exist before and discussed ways to work together to make sure South Florida Muslims are given an equal voice on stories that are reported on.
Members of the Federation thanked the Miami Herald for posting the Happy Eid Banners on the Newspaper and honoring the Muslim Community during our holidays. The Miami Herald showed great interest in the Federation and its members to work with on a variety of different news stories on a variety of topics.
“We loved the opportunity that the Federation awarded us to sit at the table with the Editorial Board of this important national media outlet. For many years the South Florida Muslim Community voice was left out of the mainstream media and of the public opinion makers, that’s no longer the case. We are out there, and the media is listening to us”, said Wilfredo Ruiz the Communications Director for CAIR Florida.
Nezar Hamze the Executive Director for the South Florida Muslim Federation says, “ The meeting was very productive and I personally thanked the Miami Herald for giving our community a voice. We invited the Miami Herald and WLRN to broaden the coverage of the Muslim community to include all its diversity. We are especially happy to hear that they want to hear more Muslim Voices.”
Participants of the meeting included; Nancy Ancrum-Editorial and Opinion Editor, Rick Hirsch-Managing Editor, Daniel Rivero- Producer WLRN Public Media, Nezar Hamze-Executive Director of the South Florida Muslim Federation, Wilfredo Ruiz-Communications Director for CAIR Florida, Khalid Mirza- President of the Miami Gardens Masjid, Imran Ali- President of Masjid AL-Ihsan, Jamil Rizvi- President of Islamic Jafferia Association, Yunus Ismail- Board Member of Friends Of Humanity, Inc.
The South Florida Muslim Federation is meeting with various media outlets throughout South Florida to share our concerns and ask for equal coverage of issues and stories that involve the Muslim community.
Media Contact:
Nezar Hamze, Executive Director, The South Florida Muslim Federation
Phone: 954-673-9459, Email: nhamze@soflomuslims.com
The South Florida Muslim Federation is an umbrella of Muslim Organizations based in South Florida. (see www.soflomuslims.com/about).
Below is a list of organizations:
Al-Amin Center
American Islamic Center of Florida
AMANA
Masjid Baitul Mukarram
Basmah
Council of Muslim Student Associations
CAIR Florida
Council of Islamic Schools of South Florida
Darul Uloom Institute
Dawah Islam
Emgage
Friends of Humanity
Helping Hands Relief
Islamic Center of Broward
Islamic Center of Boca Raton
Islamic Center of Weston
Islamic Circle of North America Relief
Islamic Center of South Florida
Islamic Foundation of South Florida
Islamic Jafferia Association
Islamic Relief USA
Islamic School of Miami
Madinatul Uloom Institute
Masjid Al-Ansar
Masjid Al-Hijrah
Masjid Ihsan
Muslim Communities Association
Masjid Jamaat Al’Mu-mineen
MAS of South Florida
Muslim Women’s Organization of South Florida
Nur Ul Islam
South Florida Young Muslims Professionals
Youth Coalition of South Florida
Young Muslims
