Media Statement

Spring 2018  

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

Several people have reached out to Al-Talib Newsmagazine expressing a wide array of concerns regarding some of the contents published, both in our annual print issue as well as our online platform. While we welcome constructive criticism, we encourage readers to be critical of the articles and their contents rather than directing scrutiny at the writers themselves and their personal lives. Please exercise professionalism and Islamic etiquette when engaging with Al-Talib contents and staff.

We would like to clarify that Al-Talib Newsmagazine is a media entity distinct from the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at UCLA and as such, does not represent or seeks to represent the views of the MSA. While we very much value and treasure our connections with the MSA community, Al-Talib Newsmagazine, as a part of UCLA’s Student Media, does not serve as the mouthpiece for the MSA. Our mission statement is to provide an “independent perspective on issues important to Muslim communities. Targeting a college-age audience, we seek to create an outlet for activism on and off campus, a platform for representation of all facets of the Muslim-American communities and a safe space for sensitive topics. We believe that this sort of dialogue, no matter how uncomfortable it may be at times, is necessary in order for our community to appreciate and celebrate its diversity.”

We aim to challenge mainstream perspectives and provide alternate opinions in order to encourage our readers to acquire a well-rounded view of the issues at hand. All writers’ opinions are their own and are legally protected under the First Amendment and our policy against censorship. Our articles undergo multiple rounds of editing and are grounded in accessible sources. We are the first to ensure that our content is not hateful. Furthermore, offering a dissident political opinion does not always imply insensitivity or hate.

We encourage our readership to consume our articles in their context, keeping the author’s best intentions for the ummah in mind.  If you have strong opinions regarding these issues or others, consider joining Al-Talib staff and expressing your voice using this platform. We hope to continue to do our best in serving our readership and our community, and we appreciate your support.

Sincerely,

Al-Talib Editorial Board