How Does the Media on Both Sides of the Mediterranean Report on Migration?
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Funded by the European Union How does the media on both sides of the Mediterranean report on migration? A study on 17 countries – by journalists for journalists and policy-makers 1 Euromed Migration IV Funded by the European Union ABOUT EUROMED MIGRATION IV AND THE STUDY “How does the media on both sides of the Mediterranean report on Migration?“ This is a Chapter of the Study “How does the tailors its activities around two pillars: the first media on both sides of the Mediterranean report pillar facilitates effective North-South and South- on migration?” carried out and prepared by the South regional dialogues and co-operation in the Ethical Journalism Network and commissioned in four main fields of migration and international the framework of EUROMED Migration IV (EMM4, protection-related matters (legal migration; 2016-2019). The objective of this project, financed irregular migration; migration and development; by the European Union and implemented by international protection and asylum). The second ICMPD, is to support EU Member States and ENI pillar focuses on capacity-building by applying a Southern Partner Countries in establishing a new outcome-oriented approach that includes sub- comprehensive, constructive and operational regional activities, tailor-made national training dialogue and co-operation framework, with a programmes and targeted technical assistance particular focus on reinforcing instruments and packages for committed partners. Both pillars are capacities to develop and implement evidence- supported by a horizontal and cross-cutting thread based and coherent migration and international aimed at accumulating evidence-based knowledge protection policies. In order to achieve this and establishing effective communication in order objective, EMM 4 builds upon the results of the to contribute to a more balanced narrative on first three phases of the project (2004-2015) and migration. Find the entire study at www.icmpd.org/EMM4migration_narrative Countries covered in this study The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by ICMPD, the EC, or its partners. © European Union, 2017 The information and views set out in this study are those of the The Ethical Journalism author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Network (EJN) was European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies commissioned to nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the conduct this study. use which may be made of the information contained therein. Contents Executive Summary ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1 EUROPE Austria: Good and Bad, but a Lack of Accountability When Journalism Fails the Migration Test................................................8 France: Politics, Distorted Images and Why Media Need to Frame the Migration Story .......................................................................14 Germany: “We Can Do It”: A Test of Media Solidarity and Political Nerve Over Migration ................................................................20 Greece: Media’s Double Vision as Migrant Crisis Catches the World’s Imagination .....................................................................................26 Hungary: How The Shock of the New Became a Polarising, Fearful and Toxic Story ..............................................................................32 Italy: The Pressure has Eased, but Media Coverage still Fails to Tell the full Migration Story ......................................................38 Malta: The Challenge of Normalising Media’s Migrant Crisis Machine ........................................................................................................................44 Spain: Desperation, Tragedy and Criminal Coverage that Distort the Media Image of Migration ............................................50 Sweden: Journalism on the Spot as Europe’s Asylum Leader Takes a Change of Direction .............................................................56 MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (EU South Partner Countries) Algeria: Public Debate Needed to Confront Denial and Media Stereotypes......................................................................................................62 Egypt: Positive Stories but Questions Remain over Self-Censorship and Lack of In-Depth Coverage ...............................66 Israel: Political Division and Internal Fears Drive the Migration Agenda ..................................................................................................................70 Jordan: Lost Voices in a Land Built on Migration .....................................................................................................................................................................................76 Lebanon: Mixed Messages As Media Cope With Internal Stress and External Pressure ......................................................................80 Morocco: The Invisible People who Should Take their Place on the Media Stage ...................................................................................... 86 Palestine: Unforgettable History, Returning Money and Political Bias Shape the Migration News Agenda ...............92 Tunisia: Single-minded Media Fail to Grasp Opportunities to Go Beyond Tales of Woe ..................................................................... 96 Desktop Study: Review of available material analysing and providing guidance on Media Coverage of Migration in Europe, Middle East and North Africa.........................................................................................................104 Contributors........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 111 Foreword Having long been a topic of public discussion, the In the case at hand, Euromed Migration IV, a issue of migration has over the past years taken programme funded by the European Union, steered centre stage in European, North African and Middle by the Directorate General for Neighbourhood Eastern media. Conflicts in Syria and Libya coupled and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) and with political and economic instability in several implemented by ICMPD, commissioned the Ethical countries in the Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa Journalism Network to undertake a study of as well as the Middle East have resulted in large scale migration media coverage in 17 countries. The focus movement of migrants and refugees through and to was on developing a better understanding of the North Africa, the Middle East and Europe. reality and constraints of traditional media and how these elements impact on their capacity to tell the “migration story”. The decision to have this study undertaken by This study aims to understand the journalists was based on the findings of initial desk prevailing media narratives on research which showed that the majority of previous similar studies in this field had been conducted by migration that exist in different academics analysing journalistic work, rarely putting national contexts. It looks at the forward the point of view of journalists themselves. In this study, 17 journalists critically reflect on how strengths and shortcomings and their respective national media have addressed the provides some insight into the challenge of reporting on migration. Divided into 17 country chapters, their analyses are based on their interplay between editorial lines, insider knowledge and views of the realities of the political narratives, journalistic newsroom, news gathering, editorial policies and various other constraints of professional journalistic approaches and public discourse on work. As such, this study is the first element of a this sensitive and often polarising broader investigation into how journalists report on migration. It does not constitute an exhaustive, subject. in-depth analysis of an academic nature preferring instead to give professional, migration-savvy journalists the opportunity to provide critical input and We have all seen the stark images depicted in important food for thought for migration actors. the media of migrants and asylum seekers packed aboard vessels of questionable seaworthiness, risking life and limb to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean in search of a safe haven and a better In this study, 17 journalists critically future. These images convey in sharp relief the human struggle in its most desperate moments. reflect on how their respective Over the course of the last three years, we have national media have addressed the witnessed a range of different approaches to covering migration in traditional media on both sides of the challenge of reporting on migration. Mediterranean. This study aims to unpack some of Their analyses are based on their these approaches in order to identify and better understand the prevailing media narratives on insider knowledge and views of migration that exist in different national contexts. It the realities of the newsroom, looks at the strengths and shortcomings and provides