MULTICULTURAL EUROPE IN THE MEDIA PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION – SLOVAK EXPERIENCE

Milan Pukančík, Society of Goodwill

Marie Stracenská, TV Markiza

Peter Guštafík, PDCS

INTRODUCTION TO REALITY

A bit more than 5 mil. inhabitants About 200 thousands Slovaks living abroad 50 thousand immigrants (foreigners in Slovakia) 1% Two thirds of foreigners registered in SVK are EU

citizens (among the third countries are US, Korean, Ukrainian, Serbian .. ) High rate of education level of foreigners living in

Slovakia Number of undocumented/irregular migrants in SVK

estimated on 7 – 10 thousands Very few people recognized for international

protection (asylum / supplementary)

INTRODUCTION TO REALITY

Roma / Gypsy population officially 1, 8 %; estimated on half a million (10% of population)

General public opinion is mostly negative towards Roma, specially marginalised socially excluded communities.

Considerable number of organisations declaring themselves as Roma, human rights, advocacy.

Information about Roma in the media has two typical shapes – either individual success stories or stereotyping picture of poor, deprived alcohol addicted, criminal, many children, relying on social benefits, .....

MAIN OBSTACLES

Migration is a marginal issue for Slovak media Roma „problem“ is a big issue but lack of

specialised media professionals Some media intentionally avoid minority topics Media are careful about being involved into any

„lobby“. Even cultural sensitivity training can be considered as impact on independance

Media are very careful about the word „DISCRIMINATION“ - not popular, not interesting for audience/readers.

PROJECT DESIGN Training for media (PSB + private)TV / radio / press agencies / printsState-wide / regionalInportant role of private media in news service

Training for NGOs (minority, advocacy..) Migrant / Roma / sexual / health impairment

Supporting their media literacy – ability to contact and involve media

Roundtable Meeting of experts (state / local bodies, NGOs, Media,

elected members of municipalities...) – V4 participation

EXPERIENCE

Minorities (NGOs) understand importnace of pro media active approach

Involving handicapped/impaired into a process of awareness

Roma NGO representatives and Roma media journalists did not reflect to join the prpject.

INFORMATION ABOUT MINORITIES IN MEDIA

TV broadcasting in successive steps reflects multiethnic and multicultural structure of society

Increasing number of educative and discussion programmes for youth about tolerance, against xenophobia and racism (MEMO 98, 2008)

Negative picture persists about Roma minorities, presenting mostly negative side of living in excluded Roma communities

Sensation like accidents (injured child while playing)

Sensation like comments from politicians gaining from ethnic tension (Hungarian, Roma)

MEDIA MONITORING

The most numerous minorities in SVK are Hungarians and Roma/Gypsy

Both have regular programmes in state TV and radio, newspaper, (Vasárnap, Uj Szó, Radio Patria, Hungarian magazine...)

Hungarian broadcasting in local private commercial media

State press agency broadcast 30 minutes in Hungarian

Romano Nevo Lil (based on project financing) – paper

Roma TV magazine So vakeres ?,

INFORMATION ABOUT MINORITIES IN MEDIA

TV broadcasting in successive steps reflects multiethnic and multicultural structure of society

Increasing number of educative and discussion programmes for youth about tolerance, against xenophobia and racism (MEMO 98, 2008)

Negative picture persists about Roma minorities, presenting mostly negative side of living in excluded Roma communities

Sensation like accidents (injured child while playing)

Sensation like comments from politicians gaining from ethnic tension (Hungarian, Roma)

MEM PROJECT MEDIA MONITORING

Media present more beneficial consequences of immigration than negative ones.

Korean community in special positive status.

SOME RESULTING STATEMENTS

Any information about minority can be reflected as negative

Only few journalists are engaged in minority and migration issues systematicly

Only few journalists come from ethnic minority background (rather homogenous composition)