The symposia provided participating journalists with a forum to examine best practices with respect to immigration reporting as well as to identify weaknesses that often characterize coverage—all part of an effort to promote better reporting on immigration and integration issues on both sides of the Atlantic. During the symposia, journalists identified some of the common flaws in immigration coverage, which is often too episodic in nature and presents immigrants in stark terms as either “good” or “bad.” The characterization of immigrants by the press on both sides of the Atlantic displays similar tendencies, often emphasizing the “otherness” of immigrants. Participants also described similar challenges in their reporting—that of including all voices in their stories, of gaining access to sources and developing relationships with immigrant communities, whose members may be reluctant to speak to the press. They agreed that a better understanding of the dynamics of economic forces and religion can tremendously improve the quality of their work. They also found that there was greater opportunity for collaboration between mainstream and ethnic media. Finally, they examined the wider implications of their work as part of the media’s contract with society, and concluded that a prerequisite for better immigration coverage—as well as journalism as a whole—was greater diversity in newsrooms in order to reflect the expanded range of modern societies’ opinions and views. This report presents the highlights of the debates that took place during the two conferences in Paris and Miami, and reflects on the conclusions drawn by participants. Please note that the views expressed in this report do not represent the views of the French-American Foundation nor its directors, officers, employees or representatives."

www.frenchamerican.org/