Earlier is week i attended an event hosted by Dr. Emma L Briant.
Dr. Emma Briant along with her colleagues Dr. Pauline Donald & Professor Greg Philo have recently collaborated on a book called “Bad News For Refugees”. This event was a discussion of some of the ideas around the topic of the book.
Below are some notes I made on the evening.
Research for the book began in 2006 shortly after Charles Clark’s resignation, it it consisted of a content analysis of all media reporting on matters related to immigration and asylum all the way up to 2011.
Research led to some interesting findings:
– Asylum seekers often grouped with other migrants.
– Illegal immigrants often grouped with asylum seekers.
– Media will sometimes confuse the terms asylum seekers and illegal immigrants
– illegal immigrants and asylum seekers often grouped together for statistics.
– Campaign for deportation of immigrants effecting lives of asylum seekers to the point where their children are often feel embarrassment.
Younger journalists are often handed immigration stories. An example was given of a young woman who was told she had to write a vile exaggerated story about asylum seekers. When she refused, she was only handed similar stories for the ned three weeks until she quit her job.
By enlarge reporting around this issue was very negative – to some extent justifies public anxiety.
Language used, often criminalising/negative language used. E.G. “Refugees are at large” “Flooded, engulfed, tidal wave etc.
Politicians have almost legitimised this “anti” behaviour.
Section 5 of Labour’s manifesto in 2005 was titled “Crime & Immigration” – Grouping of two very different things. Creates an image that suggests immigration is somehow criminal, or at least related go crime.
In a recent interview Theresa May used “illegal immigrants” to label people who were fleeing war in Africa.
One of the most highest legislated areas in law is immigration, yet legal aid for immigration has faced biggest cuts.
Zee Ahmed 