Media Diversity Institute / Tel: +44 20 7255 2473 / Fax: +44 20 7580 8597 ________________________________________ Reporting Diversity.

Media Diversity Institute

www.media-diversity.org / Tel: +44 20 7255 2473 / Fax: +44 20 7580 8597

________________________________________

Reporting Diversity Reporting Diversity

“ “ A Window of Opportunity”A Window of Opportunity”

Paresh Solanki, Board Director


"Whoever controls the media--the images—

controls the culture.“

- Allen Ginsberg -

Media Diversity - Opportunity or a Liability?


Tabloid Headlines

In the UK, the popular tabloids outsell all the broadsheets put together. So tabloids have a strong influence over messages to the masses.

Similarly populist television is on the rise and makes major impact on people


Daily Express, 17 April 2008

IMMIGRANTS BRING MORE CRIMEThe surge in immigration has led to higher crime rates.

By Tom Whitehead of Labour’s open-door policy.


Search:

Migrant crime wave a myth - police study

Acpo report concludes offending no worse than rest of the population

The Guardian, 16 April 2008


1.No common ground between the West and Islam - conflict inevitable.

2.Muslims - a threat to traditional British customs, values and ways of life.

3.The tone of language is frequently emotive, immoderate, alarmist or abusive.

4.The coverage is likely to provoke/increase feelings of insecurity amongst Muslims as well as non-Muslims.

5.The coverage is likely to be a major barrier preventing the success of the Government’s community cohesion policies and programmes.

6.Unlikely to contribute to informed debate amongst Muslims and non-Muslims about ways to maintain and develop Britain as a multicultural democracy.

MUSLIMS IN THE UK MEDIA London Mayor’s Report on Islam, Nov 2007


What does MDI do?

Mobilizes the power of the news media for deeper public understanding of diversity

Promotes the highest standards of professional journalism related to diversity


Where do we work?

Where news media can or have played a destructive role in intensifying (any) conflicts

• ‘Old’: SEE, the NIS, Middle East, Western Africa

• ‘New’: Indonesia, North Africa, EU/EFTA, CoE

CoE: Anti-Discrimination Campaign; ICC


Why do we work with Media?

Media have the power to change attitudes: Can be a bridge between majority and marginalized groups Can be a tool for strengthening human rights and promoting

diversity Can be a forum for dialogue Can confront irrational prejudices and challenge extremist

political agendas


What kind of journalism?

RD: Responsible journalism

Fair, accurate, inclusive, balanced, sensitive

RD vital in promoting understanding of/between different groups


What can journalists do?

mirror existing diversity – help all members of their communities become visible and heard

help eliminate stereotypes and representations that foster conflicts and social divisions – responsible journalism

look for the common ground that all groups share


MDI Activities

Media monitoring (15 countries)

Mid-career diversity training and professional development (2000 trained)

Diversity reporting initiatives (hands-on production)

Diversity Reporting Journalism Education and Curricula Development (14 unies)

Media assistance for CSOs and marginalized communities (over 700 trained)


Embracing Diversity per se then Media Diversity?

Michael Ignatieff: Liberal democracy based on principals of exclusion, not inclusion. The vote initially extended only to white, property-owning males.

This struggle is still going on:North-American concepts – Melting Pot; Salad Bowl.EU concepts: Integration. UK concept: Balancing Multiculturalism with Integration. French concept: Civic assimilation. Others


Public Vs Commercial Media

Legal obligations for public service media – inclusiveness [BBC: makes viewers feel it is in tune with their lives]

Commercial media: business case for diversity


Ethnic MinoritiesRace is regarded amongst the

5 most important issues in the UK today

(Others - Crime, Education, Race, Education, Defence) – BBC Audience Research 2004.

16www.media-diversity.org / Tel: +44 20 7255 2473 / Fax: +44 20 7580 8597

The Media Vs Ethnic Minorities Media is obsessed with ethnic

minorities….Negatively!

In national print media, asylum, social issues and crime account for 57% of all ethnic minority coverage (BBC).


Ethnic MinoritiesBritish Population is 60 million (Census)

White 91.2 %Asian 4.8 %Black 2.2 %Mixed Race 1.4 %Other Ethnic Groups 0.4 %


Ethnic Minorities The PERCEPTION 0f ethnic minority

population is over 23% of population- (BBC Research)

Actual figure is 9% (non-white) – Census


The Pressures …Ethnic Power ! The Media Market is commercially very competitive

Ethnic Minorities are worth billions in revenue

Some UK cities will soon have minorities who are in the majority

Take up of digital satellite and cable is much higher amongst minorities and on the Sky Digital platform there are over 40 ethnic channels. If terrestrial channels do not offer choice to minorities, they will go elsewhere causing segregation

As ethnic culture is cool, many ethnic talent are now part of the mainstream. These include programmes like Kumars at 42, Goodness Gracious Me and Babyfather.


The BBC’s Vision Be the most Creative Broadcaster in the World

To lead in the cultural change for a rich and diverse UK” – Greg Dyke, DG 7/4/ 2000

Diversity is a central business objective, not just a

Human Resource component.

There has to be a fair representation and portrayal of minorities on screen.


Ethnic Minority Targets 12% of staff to be from minority communities.

Currently it is 10%.

Senior management target to increase from around 2 % to 4 %.

Targets are NOT Quotas, they are objectives, and are set using all available data

Objectives set for fair representation of minorities in mainstream TV, Radio & Websites


Producer Guidelines The book which all programme makers sign up

to and it has guidelines on how to deal with all programming issues, including minorities


The BBC Internationally & South Asians

BBC Worldwide transmits to Indian sub continent via satellite - Financial Benefit

BBC World commissions from Indian companies for Indian audiences - Indian production staff benefit

BBC Worldwide has bought Asian magazine titles and key events rights

BBC World Service transmits in 43 languages including in Asian languages, and recruits Asian staff


Digital RevolutionTechnology now makes is much easier to

access content in numerous ways and Communication is no longer about access, but about getting noticed


The Pressures Internationally!

Digital Revolution means that the powerful western media is no longer as powerful…

Al Jazeera is expanding and setting up bureaus in UK, USA & Malaysia. Other major Asian networks are following


Digital Stations1991 191996 602001 1942002 2362003 2942004 3792005 416


TypesShopping 47Entertainment 44Sport 37Documentary 34Adult 29Children 24Ethnic 18+Religion 6

Media Diversity Institute / Tel: +44 20 7255 2473 / Fax: +44 20 7580 8597 ________________________________________ Reporting Diversity.

Documents

diversity slide

media diversity institute

news media

trained slide

reporting diversity

embracing diversity

existing diversity

lives commercial media