MULTICULTURALISM AND THE MEDIA

1. MULTICULTURALISM AND THE MEDIA ISSUES OF REPRESENTATION OF THE ‘OTHER’ Dr. Olga Guedes Bailey

2. Argument • The argument is based on a thesis suggested by Ziauddin Sardar. His argument explores the condition of postmodernity not so much as a critic of ‘imperialistic’ narratives but a reinforcement of them through ideas of celebration of diversity.

3. Argument • In my view, this post-modern analysis can be traced in multiculturalism as a social policy, and a practice to be adopted by not only government institutions but by the media.

4. Assumption • The focus of this paper is based on the sense of invisibility and misrepresentation of immigrant communities in the public sphere, especially asylum seekers and refugees. • My assumption is that journalism is not responding to the celebration of multiculturalism or the post-modern celebration of the ‘other’.

5. Politics of Naming A particular aspect of the ‘Politics of Naming’, the ‘naming and living unnamed’ is central to understanding the media’s response toimmigration in many Western societies, especially regarding asylum seekers and refugees. (Mattelart, 2000).

6. Question • How does journalistic practice contribute to a process of ‘othering’ of immigrants?

7. Argument Argument British Media • Sections of the British media’s reaction to asylum seekers has been to define and name them as a homogeneous alien ‘Other’, thus simplifying complex histories, contexts and situations. This politics of ‘naming’ in journalism is not new but rather brings back a new form of ‘colonialist’ discourse, establishing and perpetuating old stereotypes

8. ‘Naming’ the Other in British Newspapers British Press Coverage of Immigrants • Asylum Seekers as a Threat: “Blair finds it opportune to talk about immigration Our country is being swamped by opportunists. We recognise that this is a subject which requires the most careful handling, now the Prime Minister has the courage to speak out against this menace, it behoves us to do what we can to warn of the dangers.” (Daily Telegraph 8 February, 2005) • the asylum seeker as

9. The Numbers game “Immigration will add 6m to the population” …Britain’s population will swell by at least six million over the next 30 years because of immigration, it was estimated yesterday. Nearly nine of out of ten of the extra numbers will be immigrants and their families, the Migrationwatch think-thank said.” (Daily Mail, 4 October 2004)

10. The Criminal, anti-social, cheating ‘Other’ “Asylum Madness An asylum seeker whose hysterical behaviour let to a riot which caused 38 million damage to a flagship detention centre is suing the Government.” (Daily Express, 11 October, 2004)

11. The Criminal, anti-social, cheating ‘Other’ “Asylum Seekers Cost Us 1bn a Year Taxpayers are forking out more than 1 billion a year to feed and house asylum seekers and their families… It is the equivalent of nearly 50 for every taxpayer in Britain. And when other costs such as police and immigration offices are added in, the total bill could be as high as 2 billion.” (Daily Express (UK), 22 November, 2004)

12. Possible Conclusions • Regarding our concern with multiculturalism and the media, this study shows that the embracing of difference by the British press has failed insofar as the Other is represented through a politics of naming which is based on intolerance and exclusion

13. Possible Conclusions • In the case of representations of asylum seekers and refugee communities in the press, the question of the ‘Other’ goes beyond epistemological and disciplinary boundaries in academia to touch on the issue of journalistic ethics.

14. Possible Conclusions • It is related, significantly, to the ‘responsibility of cultural translation’ that Morley and Robbins (1995) refer to in their discussion of the cultures of tradition and translation. • their argument demonstrates the importance of media engagement with the lives of the refugee as the ‘Other’ in order to celebrate diversity and inclusion.