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Qualitative Info |
The study Ethnic communication media in Portugal, developed by Isabel Câmara Salim under the Observatório da Imigração (OI) [Immigration Observatory], seeks to understand the organisational dynamic of ethnic communication media in Portugal, their functions and which positive contributions they offer for the immigrant communities. The study refers the importance of ethnic media as a source of approximation for the immigrant community, the role of information as a form of integration, the role of migrant media as a means of relationship with the country and culture of origin and also as a means of demanding rights.
The I Plano para a Integração de Imigrantes (PII, 2007-2009) [I Plan for Immigrant Integration] and the II Plano para a Integração de Imigrantes (PII, 2010-2013) [II Plan for Immigrant Integration] adopted several measures accross various policy areas, including media.
For the I Plan for Immigrant Integration (2007-2009) the "Media" area of intervention included the measures (pp. 33-34):
- To encourage the development of self regulatory mechanisms in the media, based upon ethical practice and professional deontology: development of self regulatory mechanisms that cover the domain of news about immigration by way of countering the perverse effects of inciting racism and xenophobia which the media can generate; appeal for the application of a standard rule that people are not to be identiļ¬ed neither by nationality nor by ethnic origin except when it is needed to explain news content;
- Nurturing cultural diversity in the media: stimulate the media to programming/information that demonstrates the existence of cultural diversity in Portuguese society, placing importance upon the cultural and linguistic expression in the resident migrant communities in Portugal.
For the II Plan for Immigrant Integration covering the period 2010-2013 the "Promotion of Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue" area of intervention includes two measures concernig media (pp. 38-39):
- Incentives for the development of self-regulation mechanisms in the media, structured around codes of professional ethics: providing incentives for the development of self-regulation mechanisms for
media coverage of immigration issues, with the objective of countering the perverse effects which the xenophobia induced by certain manners of presenting news can generate in public opinion; distributing relevant documentation produced by international organizations (the European Union, Council of Europe and UNESCO) among the principal epresentatives of the media sector;
- Promoting cultural and religious diversity in the media: urge the media to dedicate air time to programmes and information which examine the cultural and religious diversity of Portuguese society, projecting a positive image of the cultural and linguistic expression of immigrant cultures with communities in Portugal; develop information and training initiatives on intercultural dialogue, immigration and diversity with media professionals.
Source
ACIDI (2007), I Plan for Immigrant Integration (2007-2009), http://www.acidi.gov.pt/_cfn/4d346c9b80687/live/Consulte+a+versão+do+Plano+2007-2009+em+inglês+, Date of access: 26.01.2012.
ACIDI (2010), II Plan for Immigrant Integration (2010-2013), http://www.acidi.gov.pt/_cfn/4d346c9b80687/live/Consulte+a+versão+da+Plano+2010-2013+em+Inglês, Date of access: 26.01.2012.
ACIDI, (2010), Relatório Final: I Plano para a Integração de Imigrantes (2007-2009), http://www.acidi.gov.pt/_cfn/4d346c9b80687/live/Conheça+o+Relatório+Final+do+PII+%282007-2009%29, Date of access: 26.01.2012.
Salim, I. C. (2008), Os Meios de Comunicação Étnicos em Portugal: Dinâmica Organizacional dos Media das Comunidades Imigrantes, Lisboa: ACIDI/Observatório da Imigração, http://www.oi.acidi.gov.pt/docs/Estudos_OI/OI_29.pdf, Date of access: 24.02.2012.
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