Media & Migration: Counteracting negative narratives

We live with a proliferation of fake news, in an echo chamber of social media with increasingly blurred lines between opinion and fact. Such a media environment is making it harder and harder for DEAR projects to campaign or educate on migration issues. In a recent DEAR Programme webinar, speakers offered up some useful and actionable advice.

When it comes to information on migration, is the mainstream media a friend or a foe? Are they part of the problem, wittingly (or unwittingly) peddling false stereotypes of migrants? Or are they potential partners in tackling the misinformation that surrounds this topical and politically charged issue?

“Misinformation is deliberately splitting society, it is based on dividing narratives that make it more and more difficult to envision equality and collaboration against injustice,” said Prof Myria Georgiou, from the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics. Prof Georgiou illustrated how DEAR projects can help smash negative narratives on migration by exploring three avenues of action: boosting media literacy, raising awareness and developing the vision to exploit opportunities around the ongoing COVID crisis.

There are currently over 30 DEAR projects active across the length and breadth of the European Union and most of them have some focus on migration – a direct reflection of the importance of the issue to European voters, policy makers and development organisations alike..... read the full article here:

https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/dear/news/media-migration-counteracting-…

The recording of the Infopoint webinar of 9th September 2020 is online here:

https://ec.europa.eu/international-partnerships/events/media-migration_…