Yemisi Izuora
Journalists have been advised to cover the positive stories of migration so as to help audiences better understand the reality and complexity of migration.
This was part of the charter for ethical reporting on migration relating to the use of terminology, as launched at a summit by the International Organisation for Migration, IOM, in Tunisia .
According to the charter ,media outlets pursuing migration stories are urged to build positive relationships with migrant community networks and invite them to contribute to coverage.
The Charter also encouraged the media to drop the word illegal which is the most common precursor to immigrants, stressing that it is not only dehumanising when referring to them, their identity seemingly criminalised, but also inaccurate.
Journalists were encouraged to consider seeking access to immigration detention centres, empathize with migrants and at the same time,be vigilant.
The Migration media charter is a collaborative effort between journalists and people working in migrant policy organisations.
