TU Researchers Compile UNESCO Handbook for Journalism Education Worldwide
- Research
- Top News
- Press Releases
The handbook, which is about 300 pages long, is based on six years of preparatory work, extensive scientific analyses by the team from TU Dortmund University, and numerous international conferences and workshops related to reporting on migration and flight – in the destination countries of migrants and refugees as well as in their countries of origin and the transit countries. Editorial offices there frequently lack know-how and resources: A study by the EBI has shown that African media often simply adopt the agenda of European media when it comes to the topic of migration – their own perspective, especially on the causes of flight and migration, is lacking.
Comprehensive manual missing until now
When the project was presented, Guy Berger, Director for Freedom of Expression and Media Development at UNESCO, praised the handbook as a “milestone”. Professor Susanne Fengler, Academic Director of the Erich Brost Institute, says: “Although the topic of migration dominates the headlines worldwide again and again, seeing to heated discussions and deciding election results, until now there has been no comprehensive manual for journalists. Yet it is precisely this group that has a key role to play in the public debate.” Susanne Fengler is the editor of the handbook, together with Monika Lengauer and Anna-Carina Zappe. 34 international guest authors have contributed to the project, which was funded by Germany’s Foreign Office and the Robert Bosch Foundation.
Trauma-sensitive reporting
The handbook “Reporting on Migrants and Refugees” is designed to be interdisciplinary and intended for journalism institutes, educators and students as well as media professionals throughout the world. Thirteen chapters convey, on the one hand, basic knowledge about the underlying conditions, reasons and impacts of flight and migration – tailored to the needs of prospective and practicing journalists. “They need quick access to reliable and up-to-date facts and figures, and they need to be able to double-check that they are using the correct terminology. The handbook offers both, as well as providing practical solutions for teaching, journalism studies, and everyday editorial work,” says Monika Lengauer, co-author of the handbook. On the other hand, the handbook looks at questions related to the profession and important worldwide for media makers and editorial offices: Which research findings on migration reporting are available? What impact does the latter have on the audience? And how can stories be presented in a creative way and brought to the market? “It’s also about empowering journalists in their ethical responsibility. This includes being personally affected. The handbook is therefore also concerned with trauma-sensitive reporting,” stresses Anna-Carina Zappe, co-author of the handbook.
The handbook is available in English, translations into French and Arabic will follow shortly, and other languages are planned. “The fact that the Erich Brost Institute at TU Dortmund University was allowed to compile such a politically sensitive publication for UNESCO is also a sign of the trust and esteem that the institute enjoys worldwide,” said Susanne Fengler on the occasion of the international presentation of the handbook.
Contact for further information:
