MEDIA AND CIVIL SOCIETY COOPERATION FOR RIGHTS OF REFUGEES PROJECT
Objective: Raising awareness about misrepresentation of refugees in Turkish media, reducing disinformation and wrong presentations to create stronger relationship between Turkish media and civil society via spreading constructive message on refugees in Turkey.
Leading Organization: The Research Centre on Asylum and Migration - İGAM (www.igamder.org)
Project Partner: Journalists’ Association (www.gazetecilercemiyeti.org.tr)
Context:Over 3,7 million refugees are living in Turkey making it the largest host of refugees in the world, including Syrians, Iraqis, Afghans, Iranians, Somalians and other nationalities. In all countries, media coverage of refugee crisis affects how policy makers act upon and public opinion on subject. Misrepresentation of refugees on media, triggers prejudges against refugees and complicate integration between both societies. Hence, with partnership of Journalists’ Association, this project aims to raise awareness about misrepresentation of refugees on media and to establish a stronger relationship between civil society and Turkish media to reduce disinformation about refugees by spreading constructive messages.
How Do We plan to Achieve Our Goal: We aim to improve refugee perception on media by carrying out workshops with media representatives and civil society workers in 7 cities where the refugee population is concentrated. The first city the workshops will be held is Hatay among Ankara, İzmir, İstanbul, Adana, Mersin and Gaziantep. In addition, we will observe and analyze media coverage on refugees by monitoring media systematically. We will also prepare media tool kits and info kit with an online media service to provide media members with a platform where they can consult when covering refugee news.
When and Where: The project starts in February 2017 and will last until January 2019, we will operate in 7 cities: Ankara, Izmir, Istanbul, Gaziantep, Adana, Mersin and Hatay.
Why is This Project Important: The wrong representation in Turkish media triggers misperception towards refugees in Turkey and complicates integration between two societies. Thus, cooperation and better dialogue between international society and Turkey is inevitable for sustainable and efficient solution for the issue.
For more information:
Website: www.medya.igamder.org
• Metin ÇORABATIR – President of İGAM : mcorabatir@gmail.com
• Esra YURT – Project Coordinator : esra.yurt@igamder.org
• Görkem GÖKER – Project Assistant : gorkem.goker@igamder.org
• Emrehan NALBANTOĞLU – Media Analyst : enalbant781@gmail.com
