Italy is considered to be a “civilized”, “democratic”, “open” and “tolerant” country by many people, that much more than other countries respects human, civil and political rights. For this very reason, together with few other countries, we claim the right –even the obligation- to meet in various summits and alliances –all of whom have bombastic names- so as to discuss and decide upon the fate of the rest of humanity, so as to define and face its problems and to stimulate economic development. We are the luckiest, the most “developed” and we assume that all desire to achieve our level and live, as we do, in the best of all worlds. Thanks to the complicity of polluted information from the media, we have long ago stopped wondering about such “outspoken”, presumed truth. And especially about the strong contradictions that derive from it. For example, how is it possible that being as civilized and respectful as our Constitution states we still lack a law on the right of asylum (nowadays provisionally substituted by the so-called Bossi-Fini)? How can we judge the “level of democracy” of other countries if we push to the border all the “clandestine” and “desperate” that run off –from the lack of rights that we, too, want to counteract at their homes with the help of bombs…(or international agreements?) Which are the units of measurement of civilization? Which are those of democratisation and freedom of a country? It may be an impossible evaluation…and so let’s restrain to “perception”. What is the sign that tells us that we are freer as well as more respectful to rights? If the great majority of media dedicates almost all the time that news regarding immigration takes to criminality, emergency and drama, we should wonder what the principles and values that our work and role are when dealing with public opinion. We, citizens, will have to wonder. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has already done it with the proposal of a new deontology. The answer would probably be: “we, too, have to work”, “there’s the readers’ crisis”, “we ought to create an audience and take the readers’ attention”, etc, etc, etc. Yes, of course…that’s the press, baby. But, let’s talk about it…!
21
09
2007
That’s press,baby! Let’s talk about it…
By Lauret on Friday, September 21 2007, 16:21 - media in our countries
Immigrants and fears
By Lauret on Friday, September 21 2007, 16:15 - media and society
There is no need of statistics, studies and research on media to realize that, especially in the past years, immigrants have become the main threat to our “advanced” (?!) societies…it is a weird feeling of suspect, worry and outrage that affects the great majority of population, even those who make an effort to remain open, civilized and informed. Values such as respect, freedom and solidarity that we too often consider to be obvious, are everyday exposed to new prejudices and stereotypes that seem softer, but that are in fact more dangerous and long-term ones. Words are the key. Innocent, cold, unquestionable words that, without us being conscious of it, do influence our way of thinking and acting in our everyday routine. Even if we are willing, how can we avoid such linguistic changes and the result of such (harmless) meanings: emergency, clandestine, organised crime, illegal immigration, extracommunitary, degradation…these are linked terms that are bound to be so. Who is responsible for this –or at least shares this responsibility? We can only make a hypothesis, but we cannot deny that the meanings that the media spread do certainly have an impact on the perception of our reality and of their problems; therefore on us, on us and them.