International MEDIVA workshop

Tuesday 15 May 2012 | Administrator MiM

3 - 4 May 2012, Utrecht

The MEDIVA 2-day workshop “new voices and perspectives in the news” is part of the International MEDIVA project: Media for Diversity and Migrant Integration:. MEDIVA aims to strengthen the capacity of the media to reflect the increasing diversity of European societies and thus foster a better understanding of immigrant integration processes at a time when social cohesion and integration policies are put to the test by an acute economic crisis.

read here the report

During day 1, an international expert group of journalists, researchers and (migrant) NGOs focused on finding concrete ways to tackle the main challenges in the production and presentation of news, following the conclusions from the MEDIVA project. The second day hosted an open debate on “the influence of social media and internet on the content and on the participation of migrants in the (inter) national news” and “the role of media as a platform for intercultural dialogue”. During both days in both plenary and parallel sessions, key speakers presented exemplary cases from different local and national contexts around the following issues:

· The role of migrants’ voices in reporting and in public debate; the role of inclusive and participatory journalism;

· News making on migrant issues: ways to avoid or counter stereotypes and negative framing; intercultural journalism;

· The influence of social media and internet on the content and on the participation of migrants in the (inter) national news;

· The role and responsibility of journalists in covering and managing local ethnic conflicts and in promoting intercultural dialogue.

Participants from different local, international and professional backgrounds presented and discussed what does and does not work.

PROGRAMME Thursday 3 May 2012

13:00 Lunch and registration

14:00 Welcome by Ed Klute, director Mira Media

14:05 –15:00 Presentation of MEDIVA research results

· The role of migrants and diversity in news content

Jessika ter Wal, Mira Media

· The role of diversity in newsmaking and programme production

· Eda Gemi, European University Institute

· UK newsmaking and news content specifics

Sonia McKay, London Metropolitan University

· Ireland newsmaking and news content specifics

Neil O’Boyle, Dublin City University

· Poland newsmaking and news content specifics

Sam Bennett, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan

· Short Reflection on the MEDIVA project

James Rodgers, London Metropolitan University, MEDIVA liaison journalist

15:00 –16:30 Discussion of MEDIVA conclusions in two parallel groups, concerning:

1. The role of migrants’ voices.

Enhancing the role of migrants and migrants’ voices in reporting and in public and media debates. (Practical proven examples, which can be introduced elsewhere). Inclusive/participatory journalism.

Chair: Bashy Quraishy, Secretary General - EMISCO -European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion

Presentations:

· Media4us project, Ed Klute director Mira Media;

· Islamic voices in the news, Veysel Filiz,Vice chair COJEP international, France;

· Soul Rebel Movement Foundation Jerry Afriyie, Blogger, Amsterdam (o.v);,

· Digital media strategies Moroccan-Dutch youths employ to cope with digital forms of inequali, ty Koen Leurs, Utrecht University.

· Bonding and Bridging, Susan Bink, researcher, the Netherlands

2. Intercultural journalism.

How journalists can be supported to produce accurate and balanced reports on migrant issues, and to avoid stereotypes and negative framing? (Practical proven examples that can be introduced elsewhere).

Chair: Jessika ter Wal, Researcher MEDIVA project, Mira Media

Presentations:

· Association of ethnic journalists in Italy, Darien Levani, Journalist, Italy

· MEM project Sweden, Janiche Opsahl, CSR Coordinator
Strategy & Communication, UR (Swedish Educational Broadcasting)

· Monitoring Representation in Dutch PSB, Sjoerd Pennekamp, Researcher, NPO

· Dilemmas experienced by journalists when applying diversity guidelines, Floris Muller and Renee Frissen (FORUM, Utrecht, the Netherlands)

16:30 – 17:00 Break

17:00 – 18:00 Round Table.

Presentations on findings and practical recommendations from parallel sessions with discussants and participants.

Chair: Ed Klute. Director Mira Media

PROGRAMME Friday 4 May 2012 ‘Thinking forward’

9:00 Registration Academie gebouw, Domplein 29, Utrecht

9:30 Welcome by Vrede van Utrecht

Chair: Esther-Clair Sasabone

9:45 – 10:15 Social media as a tool for journalists and NGO’s to monitor news events and

reporting as they unfold. What can we learn from the role of social media during and after the London riots, to improve migrant voices in the media?
James Cridland, radio futurologist. consultant, writer and public speaker who concentrates on the effect that new platforms and technology are having on the radio business.

10:15 – 10:45 Do national mainstream media have a role as discussion platform for

“different perspectives” in local conflicts at the community level? Pauw in Culemborg a testcase!

Frans Jennekens, chief editor diversity programs, NTR, the Netherlands,

Victor Joseph and Nordin Lasfar documentary makers. NTR, the Netherlands

10:45 – 11:00 Break

11:00 – 12:30 Parallel sessions, examples of Different Perspectives

Workshop 1. Reporting on migrants (in multicultural neigbourhoods)

Positive examples of coverage were found in local press, in particular in metropolitan areas, in quality newspapers that had reporters specialised on the topic and allowed for background reporting and investigations, and contextualisation of reports, and in programming by Public Service Broadcasters in a number of countries. What are the critical factors for success?

Chair: Teun A. van Dijk Professor Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona,

Presentations:

· Pauw in Culemborg, Frans Jennekens, chief editor diversity programs, NTR, the Netherlands, Victor Joseph and Nordin Lasfar documentary makers. NTR, the Netherlands

· U in de Wijk, Kanaleneiland Utrecht, Gabriel Erlach

· Sweden, Evrim Cosar, Journalist, Stockholm Sweden

· Reporting on multicultural areas in Amsterdam and the Hague, Perdiep Ramesar, Journalist Trouw, the Netherlands

Workshop 2. Role of ethnic media, social media, bloggers and citizen journalists to give migrants a voice in the public debate

Immigrants can have their voice heard in the media and the public debate by producing their own media and by using social media in a strategic and effective way, or by means of initiatives that create dialogue between their communities and the media. What are examples of good practice and how can migrants and NGO’s do to make more and effective use of their own media?

Chair: Bashy Quraishy, Secretary General - EMISCO -European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion

Presentations:

· Wereldjournalisten, Bonding and Bridging, Christine de Vos, Mira Media the Netherlands

· New Londoners, Gary Buswell, journalist UK,

· Soul Rebel Movement Foundation Jerry Afriyie, Blogger, Amsterdam Z.O. the Netherlands (o.v.),

· African News Hungary, Hakeem Babalola, Editor, Hungary

Workshop 3: New opportunities for migrants by applying data journalism and info graphics to make their voices heard.

Data visualisation is an effective tool in campaigning, strategic planning, education and analysis. Visualisation and data tools are democratising the use of information by civil society. Data can be the source of data journalism, or it can be the tool with which the story is told — or it can be both. How can data journalism and data visualisation help journalists to tell a complex story through engaging infographics and immigrants, NGO’s and researchers to make their information and opinions more attractive and accessible?

Chair: Ed Klute, director Mira Media

Presentations:

· Data journalism, James Cridland, radio futurologist, UK

· Infographics, Remy Jong-Min, Financieel Dagblad, the Netherlands