Do media represent realistic images of arabs?

In class, we discussed what is the difference between an Arab and a Muslim. For those of you who don't know an Arab refers to someone who comes from Saudi Arabia. While a Muslim is some who follows the faith of Islam. But in the media, do we have an accurate assumption of these people. I think the media gets it wrong a lot of the time about everyone. They assume. And we all know that when we assume it makes an ass out of you and me. So what is this image... Its obviously a negative one that scares people. But what is the root of this? Was it 9/11 that caused this negative connotation and fear or has it always been present? I think that it has always been present but with 9/11 this image has only increased. And I don't think things are going to change for a while... Not until we (all of us in this world) stop with our hate and judgment and wars, SO basically until we have peace. And since that is not happening any time soon, we just have to accept that the media is going to make judgements about people. But its up to us to make our own opinion, because if you don't have an opinion about something you're more than likely to fall for anything.