1.
Panel discussion: Diasporas and the Media
MIGRATION AND THE MEDIA
Narratives and perception
Connecting, Communicating and Networking with Diasporas
4-6 May 2016 - Dublin Castle - Ireland
Giuseppe Milazzo, Osservatorio di Pavia
Funded by the
European Union

2.
Key findings on “migration and the media” – Italy and Europe
(Italy: newscasts, 7 nationwide TV channels, January 2005 – December 2015)
(Europe: newscasts, 5 nationwide European TV channels, 2010 - 2015)
(Opinion polls: Italy, 2005 – 2016)
1. There is no clear correlation between the amount of news coverage on migration and the
fear towards migrants: time series of media coverage and opinion polls in Italy (2005-2015)
show independent trends.
2. The negative frame of the news about migration shapes the perception towards the
migrants: migrants are often portrayed in bad news as Crimes and Terrorism (Italian case,
2015)
3. A negative perception of migration is linked to the fear of terrorism: according to 2016
opinion polls in Italy, the negative attitude on migrants increased in relation to the threat to
our identity.
4. The increased fear of terrorism partly caused a negative perception on migration: opinion
polls in Italy (2009-2016) show a significant increase in the fear of terrorist attacks.

3.
Key findings on “migration and the media” – Italy and Europe
(Italy: newscasts, 7 nationwide TV channels, January 2005 – December 2015)
(Europe: newscasts, 5 nationwide European TV channels, 2010 - 2015)
(Opinion polls: Italy, 2005 – 2016)
5. The amount of news on migration rises during the peaks of migration flows: August
and Sept 2015 included most news on migrants in the European newscasts.
6. In 2015, migration became a relevant topic in all 5 European newscasts: an average
of 6% of news was devoted to migration issues.
7. Crimes and War/Terrorism are dangerous frames also in the European networks:
despite differences among TV channels, this practice continues to challenge a positive
perception towards migrants.
8. Alarming news on terrorism and immigration increased in the past 5 years in the
European channels: the highest pick of alarming news in 2015 is recorded on
terrorism.

4.
MEDIA
COVERAGE
Migration
PUBLIC
PERCEPTION
Public discourse on migration
Media Monitoring and Opinion polls
Qualitative and Quantitative
Analysis of the news coverage and
surveys on public perception

5.
News coverage and public perception - Italy
(Newscasts, 7 nationwide TV channels, January 2005 – December 2015)
Record in
2015:
4.004 news
stories
Source: European Observatory on Security – Osservatorio di Pavia (http://www.osservatorio.it/download/RAPPORTO%20SICUREZZA2016.pdf)
There is no clear correlation between the amount of news coverage
on migration and the fear towards migrants

6.
The framing of the news on migrants - Italy
(Newscasts, 7 nationwide TV channels, 2015)
The negative frame of the news about migration
shapes the perception towards the migrants
Migrants
often
portrayed in
bad news
such as:
Crimes and
Terrorism
Source: European Observatory on Security – Osservatorio di Pavia
(http://www.osservatorio.it/download/RAPPORTO%20SICUREZZA2016.pdf)

7.
The attitudes towards migration- Italy
(% of people that agree with the following statements – January 2016)
A negative perception of migration is linked to the fear of terrorism
Negative
attitude on
migrants
increases on:
Threat to our
identity
The migrants…
… are a resource for our
economy
… are a threat to public order
and security
… are a threat to our culture,
identity and religion
… are a threat for the
employment
Source: European Observatory on
Security – Survey Demos & Pi/Unipolis
(N. cases: 1.823)
(http://www.osservatorio.it/download/
RAPPORTO%20SICUREZZA2016.pdf)

8.
The fear of terrorist attacks - Italy
(% of people that declare to be often worried – Nov 2009/Jan 2016)
The increased fear of terrorism partly caused a negative perception on migration
Concern over
potential
terrorist
attacks
largely
increased
7 January 2015: FRANCE
Attack against Charlie Hebdo
12 people killed; ISIS
13 November 2015: FRANCE
Paris attacks
129 people killed; ISIS
Source: European Observatory on Security – Survey Demos & Pi/Unipolis (N. cases: 1.823)
(http://www.osservatorio.it/download/RAPPORTO%20SICUREZZA2016.pdf)

9.
Trend of news on migration – Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain
(Newscasts, 5 nationwide European TV channels, 2015)
The amount of news on migration rises during the peaks of migration flows
Record of
news stories
in September:
490
Source: European Observatory on Security – Osservatorio di Pavia
(http://www.osservatorio.it/download/RAPPORTO%20SICUREZZA2016.pdf)

10.
Migration became a relevant topic in all 5 European newscasts
Average of 6%
of news on
migration,
record in
Germany:
13%
News migration by channel – Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain
(Newscasts, 5 nationwide European TV channels, 2015)
Source: European Observatory on Security – Osservatorio di Pavia
(http://www.osservatorio.it/download/RAPPORTO%20SICUREZZA2016.pdf)

11.
The negative frames about migration shape the perception towards the migrants
Dangerous
frames as
Crimes and
War/Terroris
m shape the
public opinion
Frames of migration news – Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain
(Newscasts, 5 nationwide European TV channels, 2015)
Source: European Observatory on Security – Osservatorio di Pavia
(http://www.osservatorio.it/download/RAPPORTO%20SICUREZZA2016.pdf)

12.
Alarming news on terrorism and immigration increased in the past 5 years
Alarming news – Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain
(Newscasts, 5 nationwide European TV channels, 2010 - 2015)
Source: European Observatory on Security – Osservatorio di Pavia (http://www.osservatorio.it/download/RAPPORTO%20SICUREZZA2016.pdf)

13.
Bad and good practices in media reporting on migration
BAD PRACTICES GOOD PRACTICES
Inaccuracies and decontextualisation Voices of experts and protagonists
Alarming tone In-depth reporting
Portray strangers as enemies Alternative narratives
Vox populi
The narrative of fear

14.
Giuseppe Milazzo
Osservatorio di Pavia
gmilazzo@osservatorio.it
www.osservatorio.it
Thank you!