What would Muslim refugee say about Lithuania? How are refugees portrayed by national media? What does it look like in an international context? Why would a group international experts from Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK, to come up with slogans like “AreUListening” and “Voice4Voiceless”? What proposals have international experts come up with after analysis of Lithuanian media headlines?
Migrants Library: What would a refugee say about Lithuania?
What would Muslim refugee say about Lithuania? How are refugees portrayed by national media? What does it look like in an international context? Why would a group international experts from Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK, to come up with slogans like “AreUListening” and “Voice4Voiceless”? What proposals have international experts come up with after analysis of Lithuanian media headlines?
The Media4change movement for highest standards in journalism would like to invite Lithuanian journalists, politicians and other public figures to a public meeting with Lithuanian residents with migrant and refugee backgrounds at 12.00 on Monday 10 June 10 in the gallery of the Second Building of Lithuanian Parliament. It is an excellent opportunity for media representatives to receive first hand information which might initiate changes in the representation of migrants in Lithuania media.
The recent European elections campaign and geopolitical developments have fuelled a debate on migration. How can this be influenced by negative attitudes in media? What is the balance between freedom of press and the publication of hate speech?
During the event in Lithuanian Parliament, Media4change will provide analysis of monitoring of Lithuanian media during 2018-2019. Experts from partners countries, will provide an international context and address the issues of social intolerance towards migrants.
The event will start at 12:00 in the gallery of the Second Building of Lithuanian Parliament with presentation of the conclusions of the media monitoring study, including quantitative and qualitative analysis on how and in which context those groups were represented in press, and radio and TV programmes, as well as how public opinion was formed, the influence on political debate, and the overall image of migrants created.
- At 13:00 ‘Migrants library’ – refugees and migrants living in Lithuania presenting their own true stories; an excellent opportunity for media representatives to receive first hand information which might initiate changes in the representation of migrants in Lithuania media.
- At 15:00 participants will be invited to debate in English ‘My country – European country, challenges and boundaries of solidarity’, with insights from Mike Jempson, director of the The MediaWise Trust – for Better Journalism (UK journalism ethics charity) as well as scientific experts and a refugee from Turkey. Participants will be invited to debate with local journalist Eglė Krištopaitytė who will present the results of her investigation of problems faced by migrants wishing to rent apartments.
- At 16:30 everybody is invited to add their comment or footprint to a new piece of collaborative street art on the river bank at Olimpiečių dock.
There will also be an exhibition of original Lithuanian headlines and their alternatives devised as part of this Media4Change international media monitoring exercise.
They include:
- Hungary becomes an Islamic state. Will we become ‘new Ukraine’? – ‘Diversity enhances European economy’
- ‘Life on a ticking bomb’ – ‘Ignorance and prejudices are the true ticking bomb’
- N.Puteikis: ‘we waste our money buying iron while muslims are the true danger to Europe’ – We spend money on weapons while nationalism is true threat.
- Filters does not work: migrants are pumped to Akmene – Corruption prevents integration in Akmene.
- Migration or how to kill the state – Redefining ‘national identity’.
This event is the part of ‘Voice4Voiceless“‘project that will end in Lithuania with Final Conference on June 28, 2019 at which the results of the project will be announced and a distinguished panel of international migration experts will offer their advice to the new European parliament and to media professionals.
Media4change is a movement for highest standards in journalism. It’s aim is to carry out journalistic investigations on the issues of human rights, equality and diversity, and to work on joint projects with editors and human rights experts as the cooperation between NGOs, media and experts is the key to a better representation of socially vulnerable groups.
Project Partners:
- S.O.S. Racismo Gipuzkoa, Spain.
- National Institute for Social Integration, Lithuania.
- Szubjektív Értékek Alapítvány, Hungary.
- UNITED for Intercultural Action Network, Netherlands.
- European Youth Press -Network of Young Media Makers EV, Germany.
- Associazione Trepuntozero, Italy.
- Agenzia di promozione integrate per I cittadini in Europa- APICE, Italy
This invitation is a part of the project “Voice4Migrants”, funded by the “Europe for Citizens” programme.
