Latest Story
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.
Asylum seekers and refugees are silenced by the media amid rising hate
Hate and dehumanisation in the media: a reality for refugees and asylum seekers
By Ibrahim Zain Congy (Abu-Zain), Chadian writer and socio-political activist
This article is being published on World Refugee Day 2026.
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 Read more
Other news
One Missed Penalty Away from Hate
June 18, 2026
LIMENet on show at DW’s Global Media Forum
June 15, 2026
How diversity is being undercut
June 10, 2026
Current Projects
ACTIVE CITIZENS: Empowering activism through the support of informal groups
ACTIVE CITIZENS: Empowering activism through the support of informal groups aims to empower citizens to actively shape and improve their local communities with the support of small grants. It focuses on strengthening up to 10 informal... Read more
Protecting At-Risk Activists from Threats and Attacks (PARATA) Project
The Protecting At-Risk Activists from Threats and Attacks (PARATA) project aims to strengthen the resilience of CSOs and HRDs in Europe to threats, attacks, and other politically motivated attempts to curb the freedoms of assembly,... 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.
Read more about us
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.
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 …
Where We Stand: Gender, Language and the Politics of Hate
Register here Where We Stand: Gender, Language and the Politics of Hate 23 February 2026 | BELvue Museum, Brussels Where …
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.
podcast page
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.
Read moreSign up for our newsletter
Every month we send out a newsletter with our latest articles, opportunities and news in the field. Sign up to stay up to date with our latest news.
