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Tuesday, December 13, 2016

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.

?@cr07cristina 1 day ago

 "We need to write about the heroes" .@kshaheen on the refugee crisis #Polis2016

?@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

?@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.

?@BombayDelhiGirl

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

?@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 .....

?@PolisLSE

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

?@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

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

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

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

?@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.

?@CharlieBeckett 1 hour ago

 Alienation & Crisis: @jonsnowC4s speech to #Polis2016 made into a fab graphic by @silvia_alba

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