Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Good storytelling isnt limited to simplified representations of reality more ideas from a Polis2016 session on Reporting Refugees

Good storytelling isnt limited to simplified representations of reality more ideas from a Polis2016 session on Reporting Refugees




Last Thursday I attended the #Polis2016 conference at LSE, London UK.   This post is about some of the ideas that came out from a session on Reporting Refugees.



1) Victims or heroes - There was quite a lot of discussion about how sometimes the stories journalists present about refugees frame them as being helpless and needy victims.  But a cursory reflection on the determination needed for a refugee to start and continue on their journey indicates the exact opposite.


Cristina Matamoros ?@cr07cristina 1 day ago
"We need to write about the heroes" .@kshaheen on the refugee crisis #Polis2016


Saanya Gulati ?@BombayDelhiGirl
1 day ago
#Polis2016: @RossalynWarren says we need to move beyond the paradigm of victims & portray refugees as survivors. #RefugeeCrisis



2) Shying away from topics society is uncomfortable with Several of the panellists pointed out the following

Suna Yokes ?@sunathanlater  1 day ago
After @jonsnowC4s intro the panel discuss how mental health issues are unrepresented in refugee reports #Polis2016


So I guess a lesson from these points is:




3) Do the public only want the simplified 3 minute summary? Some of the panels discussion was about how the roots of the refugee situation went back a fair way in time and were complicated. Similarly trying to simplify descriptions of what is happening now to fit "3 minute" slots for TV could present a cartoon like depiction of reality.


Saanya Gulati ?@BombayDelhiGirl  
"We [the media] tend to compartmentalise issues such as ISIS, #Syria & the #RefugeeCrisis." - @clarissaward at #Polis2016

Hesham Zakai ?@HeshamZakai  
La Stampa’s @annamasera says need to focus on high explanations (data, context, examination) not just high resolutions (photos) #Polis2016

Of course sometimes online can lend itself to more long form reporting. But even with short form .....

Polis@LSE ?@PolisLSE  
.@ClarissaWard: Good storytelling is good storytelling. It doesnt matter what language is spoken or God is prayed to. #Polis2016


Charlotte Beale ?@CharlotteAGB  
.@clarissaward calls out journalists hubris "Im going to make the world a better place" just keep your head down, do good work #Polis2016


And some felt the public actually has an appetite for nuance

silviou ?@Silviou  
There is a hunger for good neutral nuanced reporting @clarissaward #Polis2016


So a lesson from these points might be:




4) Some other ideas and background to reporting on refugees


tomhannen ?@tomhannen  
@RossalynWarren’s terrific piece using WhatsApp to explain the refugee crisis #Polis2016

Photo published for A Syrian Refugee Shared His Struggle To Reach Europe In Real-Time On WhatsApp


A Syrian Refugee Shared His Struggle To Reach Europe In Real-Time On WhatsApp




IndexCensorshipMag ?@Index_Magazine  
Interesting debates this morning at #Polis2016 about reporting the refugee crisis. See our special report on this: 

Photo published for Spring 2015: Across the wires – how refugee stories get told - Index on Censorship




PS In an earlier post I summarised the key ideas and quotes from Jon Snows opening address on whether journalists can win back the publics trust.  Since then Charlie Becket has tweeted a graphic of what Jon talked about.  Its a great summary  - you may want to read my earlier post to understand some of the headlines in it.


Charlie Beckett ?@CharlieBeckett  1 hour ago
Alienation & Crisis: @jonsnowC4s speech to #Polis2016 made into a fab graphic by @silvia_alba







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