Pan-European survey on initiatives that challenge discrimination in the media

Deadline: 2 July 2008

The International Federation of Journalists, Internews Europe & the Media Diversity Institute have launched a survey to identify initiatives by and about the media that have successfully challenged discrimination and promoted diversity. The study covers 30 European countries and is financed by the European Commission.

For more information and to contribute to the survey please visit www.media4diversity.eu. The deadline for contributions is Midnight 2 July 2008.

WEBZINE from Liverpool international conference on interculturalism

Liverpool, UK, 1-3 May 2008

MDI played a key role at Liverpool's Intercultural Cities Conference (ICC) 1-3 May, by setting up a virtual newsroom.

A webzine called ‘DiverCities', produced by the ‘newsroom', includes reports from and around the event, and carries features on the topic of multiculturalism, and on Liverpool itself. Click here to access the WEBZINE.

The ICC aims to throw new light on the issues of migration, diversity and urban life, and explore how the mixing of different cultures can be turned to economic, social and cultural advantage. For more details click here.

Council of Europe's Intercultural Cities programme

Posted:28 April 2008

As a partner to the Council of Europe's programme, ‘Intercultural Cities: Governance and Policies for Diverse Communities', MDI is setting up workshops, training and consultancy in at least 12 participating European cities.

According to the Council, “Media – and in particular the broadcast media – have an enormous impact on public perceptions of migrants and cultural minorities in general.”

MDI's media component includes helping NGOs to communicate better with the media, and training journalism academics to alert students to these issues. For more info email info@media-diversity.org.

European Petition to promote media literacy and diversity

Media and civil society organizations in Europe are invited to sign an online petition that demands high standards in the regional media. The petition, titled “Declaration on Media and Democracy in Europe,” calls to take actions aimed at “strengthen[ing] the liberty, quality, variety, and integrity of mass media and journalism in Europe.” Specific initiatives proposed by the petition include the promotion of diversity in the media. For more information or to sign the petition, click here.

Media debates multi-culturalism

Is multi-culturalism eroding social unity in countries such as Britain? Does Britain need more 'Britishness'? What defines the common ground in the country, and where is the balance between that common ground, Britishness, multi-culturalism and separatism? The London bombing prompted the debate in the UK . Elsewhere similar discussions induced either by global happenings or domestic experiences are taking place too. >>>

New debate in Danish prophet cartoon controversy, April 2007

The Chairman of JP-Politikens Hus, a Danish media conglomerate, defended his paper’s decision to publish the controversial cartoons of the prophet Muhammad, while criticizing U.S. papers for failing to republish them. Joergen Ejboel, speaking at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on April 11, insisted on his publication’s right to free speech in regard to the cartoons that sparked a wave of demonstrations and riots throughout the world last year; resulting in more than 100 deaths. Opponents of the cartoons said the caricatures were racist. Kuwait called them examples of "despicable racism," while Iran termed them "ridiculous and revolting," and the Organization of the Islamic Conference called them “blasphemous” and “insulting.” Further information: Read full article; Read more on cartoon controversy >>>