DEARBORN — Muslims Americans tend to be skeptical about the mainstream media’s coverage of the religion and culture, especially during a time of rising rhetoric targeting the community.

But the team at WXYZ Channel 7 has taken an unprecedented move among local network affiliates— it has launched “Muslim American: Inside a Growing Michigan Community.”

In the series, WXYZ reporter Simon Shaykhet profiles local Muslim Americans in an effort to help dispel misconceptions about the religion. Produced by Alexandra Bahou and photographer Johnny Sartin, the project takes an extensive look into the local Muslim community.

“So many people have never been to Dearborn,” Shaykhet told The AANews. “So many people might not know anyone who’s Muslim American. We talked about a lot of inspiring stories with a lot of important figures. And also what it means to participate in the American Dream.”

Those featured in the project include The AANews Publisher Osama Siblani, FBI Community Outreach Specialist Bushra Alawie, Islamic Center Executive Administrator Kassem Allie and Zaman International founder Najah Bazzy.

The series visits Dearborn, a city with a one of the highest concentrations of Muslim Americans in the U.S. The project also takes viewers into the Islamic Center of America, one of the nation’s largest mosques, to help explain the teachings of Islam.

Several of the videos have already hit the web, with more getting ready to roll out in coming days, including a profile of Assistant U.S. Attorney Abed Hammoud and an episode featuring Dearborn hotspots such as Shatila Bakery.

WXYZ News Director Rhonda LaVelle told The AANews that the team began conceptualizing the project in June and spent months preparing and producing the series.

“We really wanted to do something that people would remember to help educate our community,” LaVelle said. ” It’s such a vulnerable time right now across the world. We felt that it was so important to show people across the country what Muslims were and what they believe in, and I think we were able to accomplish that.”

LaVelle said hours of footage ended up on the cutting room floor. Producers will be looking for ways to eventually use those clips in a cohesive form as well.

During a meeting with The AANews staff at the WXYZ office in Southfield, Siblani thanked the affiliate for the positive product it assembled.

Those at the meeting included Shaykhet, LaVelle, Bahou, Vice President Mike Murri, Assistant News Director Barbara Roethler, Creative Services Director Phil Wrobel and Digital Director Seth P. Myers.

“On behalf of the community, we would like to say thank you,” Siblani told the WXYZ staff. “This is brave. I believe this is not going by unnoticed in our community. For years, we have been crying out and finally someone steps in from the mainstream media to educate people.”

Siblani stressed that it’s been a rough few years for the community and that more projects in the vein of WXYZ’s series are warranted to off-set the political climate.

“It’s very scary,” Siblani said. “Unless we step in and say that’s not how people should perceive us. The world has seen so much trouble in the last few years and some people are trying to cash in on it in a very ugly way.”

During the production of the series, Siblani also gave pointers to the WXYZ staff on issues to touch upon, including educating residents about the hijab. Siblani said that it was important for the series to highlight that not every Muslim woman wears a headscarf.

Murri said Siblani’s recommendation was taken into consideration and adapted.

“Thanks to your suggestion and feedback, we have actually gone back and changed the video to talk a little about that,” he said. “We want to shine a light on this community and talk about the people and culture in the right way. I think we’ve all learned through this.”

Myers said the team incorporated data from the Pew Research Center, which estimated that 40 percent of Muslim women don’t wear the hijab.

WXYZ is hoping to generate a conversation around the videos, as each piece is getting shared on the station’s Facebook Page. The AANews will also be sharing the videos on its Facebook page.

Since the series began, WXYZ staff have received some negative feedback on social media.  However, the majority of it has been positive.

“We generally know when we post something on Facebook, what the comments will look like,” Myers said. “But for every comment that is in some way ignorant, negative or uninformed, there’s somebody else that’s jumping right in to say, ‘that’s not the case.'”

WXYZ is hoping the series will live on. The station plans to keep the videos on its website so that people will be able to view them and share them for years to come.

The station is also asking for audience engagement. WXYZ is looking for local Muslims to submit their own experiences in video form, in hopes of making the series an ongoing project.

To view the series, log on to: http://www.wxyz.com/muslimamerican