By Anja Anđušić, MDI Western Balkans Media monitor
A recent report sheds light on significant disparities in the portrayal of Polish and German migrants in the British media.
The report, “Representing Central and Eastern Europeans in the Media”, by Charlotte Galpin and Maren Rohe of the University of Birmingham, which was published in September 2024, highlights the stark differences in how these groups, the two largest of EU-born residents in the UK, are represented. It reflects broader issues in media reporting on migration and its impact on public perception.
“Our research shows that media representations of Polish and German migrants use stereotypes that reproduce historical ideas of ‘western’ and ‘eastern’ Europe structured by economic, cultural and racialised hierarchies. We find that media representation impacts on migrants’ sense of belonging in the UK as well as their engagement with politics,” says Charlotte Galpin.
The consequences of Brexit
The report contextualises the issue of Brexit, by highlighting how it negatively impacted the feeling of belonging for EU-citizens in the UK and that migrants are well aware of the stereotypical portrayal of their ethnic groups in the media.
According to the findings, German migrants are typically depicted as highly skilled professionals contributing positively to the UK economy. In contrast, Polish migrants are often characterised as low-skilled workers, poorly integrated into British society, and seen as a drain on resources.
Both groups, however, are reduced solely to their contribution to the British economy, with their identities and other aspects of migration largely ignored. This fuels a narrative that views migrants only in terms of their utility to the country, rather than recognising them as people with complex backgrounds, culture, and history.
A post-socialist lens
The report also noted that the media portrays the politics of both Polish and German migrants through a post-socialist lens, often attributing the rise of far-right movements and violence in these countries to their post-communist histories.
These narratives contribute to the “othering” of Central and Eastern Europeans while positioning the UK and Western Europe as free from such issues, making it more challenging to address racism, xenophobia, and similar issues across Europe as a whole.
The research involved an in-depth analysis of online articles from four major British newspapers including The Guardian, The Telegraph, Daily Mail (MailOnline), and the Daily Express.
Galpin and Rohe analysed articles related to Polish and German migrants, published between 2014 and 2019, during key events such as the European Parliament elections and the EU referendum, as well as articles on historical memory from 2019.
This year was particularly significant due to the 30-year anniversary of the political transitions of 1989 and the 80-year anniversary of Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939.
Additionally, the study incorporated findings from 40 in-depth narrative interviews with German and Polish migrants in UK. These interviews explored participants’ perceptions of historical memory, migration experiences, and their political identities and actions, providing context and depth to the media analysis.
Recommendations
As part of this report, Galpin and Rohe incorporated recommendations to improve media reporting on Central and Eastern European migrants in the report. These include:
- Consulting migrant groups directly to amplify their voices
- Avoiding tropes categorising migrants into hierarchies or binaries
- Avoiding language that implies European citizens are always white
- Using precise terms to avoid stereotypes and providing training for journalists and editors on reporting on migrants and migration
- Consulting resources provided by charities such as MDI
You can read more detailed recommendations and findings in the report.
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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Media Diversity Institute. Any question or comment should be addressed to [email protected]
