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Hardships and tragedies are ignored for narratives focused on fear and deep division. The portrayal of refugees and asylum seekers online and in the media.
This article is being published on World Refugee Day 2026.
By Ibrahim Zain Congy (Abu-Zain), Chadian writer and socio-political activist
I speak as one voice among thousands of asylum seekers who never wanted to seek asylum or become a refugee.
No one chooses to leave behind family, children, partners, parents, a career, a home, and property. The search for refuge, safety and protection is a recurring and natural phenomenon throughout human history, among people whose lives are endangered. It was never peculiar to a particular race, colour, demography or generation.
In 1951, the Geneva Refugee Convention, a fundamental international treaty, set out the legal obligations of states to protect people who have been forced to flee their homes to escape conflict, violence, human rights violations, and persecution. There are clear guidelines...Read more
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Current Projects
Citizen info (formerly known as InfoFacto) is a youth-centred media literacy platform helping adolescents assess digital content, engage with diverse perspectives, and navigate AI-driven misinformation. The project deepens critical inquiry skills and digital resilience, helping young people navigate rapidly evolving media environments—particularly social media, where misinformation... Read more
Engaging new generations on innovative, joint, and multidimensional actions addressing the Global Challenges The YOU(th) CARE project aims to empower and mobilize the next generation of Global Caretakers for a shared, sustainable Euro-Mediterranean future. Recognizing... Read more
Who we are
Media Diversity Institute (MDI) works internationally to encourage accurate and nuanced reporting on race, religion, ethnic, class, age, disability, gender and sexual identity issues in media landscapes around the world.
While our work is grounded in the principles of freedom of expression and values of diversity and inclusion, our day-to-day work focuses on cultivating practical skills to combat negative stereotypes and disinformation, improve media and information literacy, and influence the conversation on diversity and the media.
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Where We Stand: Gender, Language and the Politics of Hate 23 February 2026 | BELvue Museum, Brussels
A one-day symposium bringing together researchers, journalists, civil society organisations and policy experts to examine how gendered hate spreads through language, media and political discourse — and how communities resist it.
Keynote speaker Shada Islam, acclaimed journalist and MDIG board member, led a programme of six panels exploring hate speech, online radicalisation, platform responsibility and European regulation. The event was organised as the closing event of the EU-funded CHASE project, with support from the King Baudouin Foundation.
guidelines, studies AND resources
Media Diversity Institute gathers the latest guidelines, studies and other resources to help journalists, academics and civil society activists integrate a diversity perspective into their work.
The Truth Frontline: Reporting War Crimes in the Age of Disinformation
Journalists and fact-checkers are invited to participate in an online training course “Learning to Counter Disinformation”, offered by The Reckoning …
Local News Matters: New Pathways for Sustainability and Community-Powe...
4 MAY 2026, BELvue Museum, Brussels Register Join Us for a One‑Day Conference Shaping the Future of Local Media in …
Engaging With the Next Generation: Youth, Media, and the Public Sphere
International Journalism Festival 2026 | Perugia – Side event Register here MDI Global is heading to Perugia for the International …
MDI Podcast
Diversity Matters is a podcast exploring why diversity matters—especially in media—at a time when it’s under attack globally. Informative and provocative, it dives into representation, inclusion, and media policies, bringing together diverse voices for critical discussions. A Media Diversity Institute production, the monthly podcast promotes accurate, nuanced reporting on race, religion, ethnicity, class, age, disability, gender, and identity in global media.
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What We Are Working On Now
Media Diversity Institute is working on a number of projects on the cutting edge of media and diversity issues. Check out what we are working on now.
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