Media and Cultural Diversity in Europe and North America , livre ebook
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English
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2009
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Découvre YouScribe et accède à tout notre catalogue !
170
pages
English
Ebooks
2009
Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne En savoir plus
Publié par
Date de parution
01 janvier 2009
EAN13
9782811102944
Langue
English
Poids de l'ouvrage
1 Mo
Publié par
Date de parution
01 janvier 2009
EAN13
9782811102944
Langue
English
Poids de l'ouvrage
1 Mo
KARTHALA
Media Cultural and Diversity inEuropeandNorthAmerica
Edited by Claire Frachon Coordinated by Virginie Sassoon
Media and Cultural Diversity
in Europe and North America
Edited by Claire Frachon and coordinated by Virginie Sassoon
INSTITUT PANOS
KARTHALA
This publication was made possible by support from the Open Society Foundation Media Program (OSF) and the Winthrop-King Institute for Contemporary French and Francophone Studies, Florida State University. We would like to thank the French National Agency for Social Cohesion and Equal Opportunities (ACSE) and the French Ministry of Culture and Communication for their contributions to the French version of this book.
The content of this publication is the responsibility of the Institut Panos Paris and that of the authors, and under no circumstances should it be considered to reflect the opinions of the ACSE, of the Ministry of Culture and Communication or of the OSF.
2009 English-language Edition, edited by Claire Frachon and coordinated by Virginie Sassoon 2008 French-language Edition, edited by Claire Frachon and coordinated by Virginie Sassoon, entitled « Médias et diversité. De la visibilité aux contenus. Un état des lieux en France, au Royaume-Uni, en Allemagne et aux États-Unis ».
Editorial consultant: Alec G. Hargreaves Translation: John Doherty and Entreprise Architextos
Graphic design: Nancy Cossin Photography: Louie Psihoyos/Getty Images
For more information Institut Panos Paris – 10, rue du Mail – 75002 Paris Tel : +33 1 40 41 05 50 – Fax : +33 1 40 41 03 30 Website: www.panosparis.org panos@panosparis.org
©Institut Panos et editions Karthala, 2009 All rights reserved ISBN 978-2-8111-0294-4
Authors
• Reynald Blion,Media & Diversity Manager, Council of Europe, Directorate General IV Education, Culture and Heritage, Youth and Sport • Mukti Jain Campion,Author and producer, Culture Wise • Sirin Dilli,Researcher MinorityMedia, University of Poitiers, University Paris III and Istanbul Bilgi • Claire Frachon,Journalist and European media-consultant • Alec G. Hargreaves,Director of the Winthrop-King Institute for Contemporary French and Francophone Studies, Florida State University • Myria Georgiou, Dept of Media and Communications, London School of Economics and Political Science
• Catherine Humblot,Journalist Le Monde • Sunny Hundal,Founder and editor of the online magazine Asians in Media • Jae-Won Joo,PhD candidate at the London School of Economics and Political Science • Katharina Nötzold,RCUK-Research Fellow, Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), University of Westminster • Isabelle Rigoni,Sociologist and team leader of the EU Marie Curie Excellence Team MinorityMedia hosted at Migrinter, University of Poitiers
Acknowledgements
We would like to extend warm thanks to: • The co-authors for their commitment to this project and the quality of their contri-butions, • Our partners, particularly the Open Society Foundation Media Program, and spe-cifically Marius Dragomir and Gordana Jankovic, • Alec G. Hargreaves for his pertinent advice, meticulousness and invaluable contri-butions to this publication, Roland Huguenin-Benjamin for his invaluable insights, and all those who helped to enrich the thinking that went into this volume, • And finally, the team at Institut Panos Paris – particularly Françoise Havelange, Pascal Berqué and Gabrielle Beyl – for their support during the various stages involved in putting together this book.
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FRANCE
From visibility to content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reynald Blion, Claire Frachon, Catherine Humblot and Isabelle Rigoni
Overview of academic studies and media representations, 1970-2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • A neglected field up to the 1980s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • The 1980s: embryonic development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • The 1990s: towa rds more regular and diverse media outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • The 2000s: a central theme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The role of public bodies and civil society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • From the Fonds d’Action Sociale (FAS) to the Agence Nationale pour la Cohésion Sociale et l’Égalite des Chances (ACSE): commitments and initiatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1975-1989: first steps, foregrounding dedicated broadcasts for immigrants 1989-1995: distributors become financially involved FAS becomes a financial partner in other productions Widening production support FAS’s little-known support for radio production • Organisations within civil society: a decisive impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Between spectacle and provocation, Collectif Égalité forces the debate New forums: ongoing sources of action? • Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel (CSA): regulation for better representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Television: the primary target New interpretations and commitments by the CSA • Haut Conseil à l’Intégration (HCI): a new source of support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . An initial opinion on cultural diversity
8
11
16
16 16 17 18 19
20
20
25
30
33
The changing nature of government involvement: chronological observations . . . . The 1990s: half-hearted interest The 2000s: growing pressure from civil society and certain institutions After 2005: greater awareness, and necessary actions
Representing diversity: practices, realities, issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • The double role of the media: informants and actors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The end of the 1990s: a media groundswell • French Television: a force for change? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TF1: between stated commitment and actual change France Télévisions: significant but little noticed changes Canal+: mainstreaming diversity M6: beyond “showcase” diversity? The Radio France group: a leader in the quest for diversity
The evolution of media content: insufficient diversification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • The representation of diversity: a problematic centred on television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Salient themes in the media world . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . From “banlieues” to certain “districts” Law and order Islam From anti-racism to anti-discrimination Colonial history, post-colonial migrations and “communautarisme” Visible and invisible minorities
UNITED KINGDOM
Representing difference in the British media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Myria Georgiou and Jae-Won Joo
The historical and cultural context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Politics and policies of diversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Migrants in the media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Minority ethnic representation in media production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • The main elements of media policy and diversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Representations of migrants and minorities in media content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Broadcasting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Developments in the media and the potential for migrants’ integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
35
38 39
40
46 48 49
60
60 62
64 64 66
68 68 70
71
Cultural diversity in British broadcasting: where we are and where we need to go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mukti Jain Campion Colour on screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Audience satisfaction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Content not colour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Colour on screen does not mean diversity behind the scenes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How do we move forward? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Change is long overdue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A snapshot of the British media and ethnic minorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sunny Hundal The state of ethnic media in the UK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Does the mainstream provide? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What does the future hold? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
GERMANY
73
73 74 75 76 77 78 78
80
80 82 83 84
Media and migration in Germany86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katharina Nötzold and Sirin Dilli Brief history of immigration and immigration policies 86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Studies on media and migration 88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Studies by media organisations 89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . From migration to integration: changed perceptions 90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Civil society 92 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Media targeting migrants 93 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Migrants working in media 97 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The depiction of migrants in German media outputs: common topics 98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The representation of islam in German media 99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Outlook 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NORTH AMERICA
Ethnic diversity and the media in the United States104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alec G. Hargreaves Introduction 104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Representation 104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The ownership and staffing of the media 105 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Voluntary organisations and pressure groups 106 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Audience and reception 107 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conclusion 108 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ethnic diversity and the media in Canada109 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alec G. Hargreaves Managing Canada’s ethnic mosaic 109 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Media research 111 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Content analyses 112 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Production studies 113 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Audience and reception studies 113 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Third media 113 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Multiculturalism: separation or dialogue? 114 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ACTIONS FOR THE FUTURE Reynald Blion and Claire Frachon Expand research studies and focus on print media and the internet 116 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Television: make drama a priority and assess its impact 116 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Public and private initiatives in Europe 117 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minority ethnic media: a field to be explored 118 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transnational media and satellite television: a need to know more 118 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A need for more studies of minority audiences 119 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
APPENDICES
Biography 122 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glossary 125 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selective bibliography 128 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conference proceedings and related materials 128 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •Press articles 130 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Journal articles and special issues 132 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Books 136 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reports and official documents 144 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •146Internet sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Audiovisual documents relating to France 160 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FOREWORD
In his famousPoetics, Aristotle wrote that the poet, in the old Greek meaning, should through the imitation of events “afford” the pleasure that comes from pity and fear. In modern times, James Joyce, through his character Stephen Dedalus, defined pity as the feeling that “arrests the mind in the presence of whatsoever is grave and constant in human suffering and unites it with the human sufferer” and terror (or fear) as that which unites the mind with “the secret cause” or the unknown.
Since Aristotle, volumes have been written on pity and fear in literature, with literary theorists and critics fascinatingly knitting theories and philosophies on how these feelings make good writing, move and capture audiences, tickle tastes, stir passions and mould beliefs.
Beyond the phenomenal world of literature and the arts, Aristotelian concepts seem to hold up in many of our mundane actions and reactions. And they have incessantly come back to me in my experience as a journalist and media critic.
Back in early 2004 when the European Union was preparing, as part of its enlargement process, to let in ten more nations, mostly from eastern Europe, I was following the coverage of that landmark event in western media. Some four months before the ten new countries officially became part of the European Union, vituperative articles and bitter debates about an expected invasion of migrants from poor eastern European nations inundated the newspapers’ pages and broadcasters’ schedules in the United Kingdom.
With very few exceptions, media outlets got ensnared in this deprecatory discourse against eastern European migrants. Playing the fear card, they warned about millions of impoverished migrants who would supposedly come to western Europe, take the jobs off the locals, burden the social security system and boost criminality. Some of the western media went so far as to warn that eastern migrants would bring to the west “unknown” diseases and plagues. Few media outlets wanted to understand and tell their readers and viewers who their “invading” neighbours were, to talk about their history or their cultures. Most of them were immersed in this scaremongering campai-gning. “It brings us readers and viewers,” a journalist told me at the time.
Experience shows that readers and viewers are as well captured by responsible and innovative reporting about minorities. And this new book from the Panos Paris Institute confirms this belief.
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MEDIA AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA
But let’s take a step back. Although examples of unprofessional, irresponsible and sca-remongering journalism still abound, work on promoting standards favouring greater diversity in the media has intensified. The past decade at least has seen spates of ini-tiatives aimed at promoting diversity in the media, including training of journalists covering minorities and migrants, studies and analyses on media and diversity and policies encouraging diversity and understanding.
The Panos Paris Institute’s book is a riveting sashay into the history of this process. An illuminating contribution to the literature on this topic, the book delves through stu-dies on diversity and the media dating back to 1970. Historical accounts are combined with thorough analyses of the impact of civil society in this field and assessments of the effects of regulation and government intervention on diversity in broadcasting.
Combining journalistic investigation with much diversity we find in the media in five Kingdom, Germany, the United States and
The picture is far from satisfactory.
in-depth research, the authors assess how established democracies: France, the United Canada.
We learn about the French regulatory model known for its hostility to openly recogni-sing ethnic differences. Only recently, young civil society groupings have overtly called for the recognition of minorities in the media.
Islam is often depicted in French media as a threat or a source ofbouleversement. Rare are the cases when Islam is presented as a legitimate form of private belief or freedom that, in theory, is guaranteed by the secularist French state. Generally, immigration-related themes are tabloidised in the French media.
In the United Kingdom, the coverage of race and ethnic relations was until recently geared towards issues such as exclusion from employment, education and housing. Mainstream media have seldom covered issues of popular and everyday culture. Minorities in the English media appear mostly in crime stories, with particular ethnic groups stigmatised and linked with negative stereotypes.
Through its review of good practices, regulations and government interventions, the work of the Panos Institute confirms an older belief of many media observers and journalists who have dealt with diversity in the media and coverage of minorities and migrants. Without belittling the importance of policy measures and other types of intervention aimed at pushing media to strengthen diversity in their coverage, it turns out that many such steps don’t have much impact in the daily reality of the media busi-ness unless they are matched by good practices on the part of journalists.
There have been numerous voices calling for various direct interventions to boost diver-sity in the media. A system of quotas was seen as a means to achieve that. Ensuring
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