Inaugural National Conference on Migration, Media and Integration/Social Cohesion 2016

The inaugural National Migration Media and Integration on /Social Cohesion Conference from the 31 May – 1 June drew together leading decision makers, thinkers and Multicultural specialists to discuss and debate key issues that related to misrepresentations of migrant communities in the mainstream media.

The conference was jointly organized by the African Media Australia (AMA), The National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council (NEMBC), the University of South Australia.

Diversity in the media is about more than just representation on the screen and in newspapers. It’s about the stories that get told, the issues that get covered, the voices that get heard. It’s about creating a range of voices, accents, languages, and, most importantly, values.

Download the Media Release and read the full recommendations and actions from the conference

Summary of Key Recommendations

Mainstream Media

Commercial and public media

• Recruiting more journalists (both cadets and experienced reporters) from multicultural backgrounds.
• Training existing journalists on diversity, cultural competency, and ways of proactively engaging with new and emerging migrant communities.
• Appointing a diversity officer as a dedicated contact with migrant communities within media organisations.
• Creating regular forums for contact between journalists and new migrant communities.

Community media

• Encouraging and rewarding community media outlets for offering employment pathways and training programs that promote entry-level positions for young journalists from migrant communities.

Government and Regulators

• Promoting forums and events that enable regulators and politicians to increase awareness of the situation through contact with journalists, further training, and research and monitoring initiatives.

Universities and Tertiary Institutions

• Encouraging and funding academics to increase awareness of the situation through relevant research and monitoring projects.
• Strengthening networks through roundtable meetings of interested academics and media and community representatives.

Community Organisations

• Facilitating community organisations to be more proactive in engaging with local journalists and editors.
• Helping NGOs and community organisations to react to specific articles and broadcasts that misrepresent migrant communities or fail to offer them a balanced ‘right of reply’.
• Educating and training community members in writing press releases, identifying media opportunities, and approaching journalists with stories that cast their communities in a positive light.

• Using comedy events and cultural performances to promote positive media stories.