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NUJ launches guide for reporting on refugees with UNHCR
Stories, 19 June 2009
DUBLIN, Ireland, June 19 (UNHCR) – The National Union of Journalists in Ireland has launched a booklet to help journalists reporting on asylum issues. The booklet was a collaboration with UNHCR and the Irish Refugee Council.
Welcoming the booklet's re-printing, UNHCR's Representative Manuel Jordao said: "skewed, inaccurate or unbalanced reports on asylum can confuse public opinion, create false impressions, and definitely make the work of agencies like ours much harder."
He appealed for balanced and accurate reporting on asylum and said contentious or controversial issues need to be debated on the facts.
Irish NUJ Secretary Seamus Dooley, said: "As professional journalists we must ensure that we adhere to the NUJ Code of Conduct and that we treat everyone with respect. Asylum seekers have a right to be treated with respect and dignity. The commercial imperative to sell newspapers or to secure wider market share does not absolve media organisations from their responsibilities towards migrants, towards minority groups or towards asylum seekers."
Officially launching the guide, the Press Ombudsman Prof. John Horgan welcomed that fact the guidelines were drawn up by journalists for journalists.
"It embodies, therefore, reflections based on the practical experience of those at the coalface, and is not simply a wish-list compiled by people with the best of intentions in the hope that everyone will sit up and pay attention."
He said that "guides and codes, even the best of them, are at the end of the day just that - guides and codes." He cautioned they would never be a substitute for the exercise by all journalists of personal responsibility, and their allegiance to truth and fair dealing.
"Skewed, inaccurate or unbalanced reports on asylum can confuse public opinion, create false impressions, and definitely make the work of agencies like ours much harder."
Manuel Jordao, UNHCR's Representative in Ireland
Robin Hanan, the Irish Refugee Council's CEO said the media were central to a "process of understanding."
"Many people form their picture of the people and issues involved through the prism of the media, and this can either reinforce or question the simplistic stereotypes which can cause fear and friction."
He said asylum seekers and refugees were vulnerable to changes in public policy at national and international level.
"Across Europe and beyond, we have seen how confusion and stereotypes have driven politicians to adopt policies which will endanger people seeking protection and damage human rights. The best answer to fear and demagoguery is a clear and informed public debate."
The booklet is available to download a here.