Role of the media in Roma empowerment

[Jose Santos Silva]

The theme of discussion in the first International Conference with EACEA that will take place in Barcelona (16-17 november), has an objective the discussion the role media and the real situation that has the Rome people. We invite each ARCI-Toscana and ZPKF as partner/member to discuss the fundamental role and the activities that plays in each country about this matter.
Thank you.
FAGIC-Coordinator

[Kristina Magdolenova]

We, the editors at the Roma Media Centre (MECEM), based in Košice, Slovakia, turn via this letter to the European public, colleagues in the Roma media and European institutions, in order to publicly come forward and undertake the steps for asserting the needs and the preservation of Roma media in the EU.

As Roma journalists with long years of experience working in public media in Slovakia, we are always more urgently aware of the fact that despite different programmes and strategies, the Roma media in Europe, especially in the EU, are even more discriminated against. On one side, millions of euros are spent on so-called medialisation of the Roma problem: ways are sought to depict the Roma in the media; hundreds of non-Roma journalists are trained; dozens of people have made a business of this theme; but we presume to ask one question: Why does no one institutionally support the Roma media directly? We assume that the time has come for the Roma to speak for the Roma!

We are at the halfway point of the Decade of Roma Inclusion (DRI), the largest project for the integration of the Roma at the turn of the twenty-first century. Who among us has seen any results from this process, this initiative which has thus far devoured a not inconsiderable amount of financing? We consider it shameful that from the start no independent programmes have been created within the framework of the DRI aimed at the institutional support of Roma media; that it’s as if the Roma media have been deliberately kept dependent on small projects, purposely undernourished so that it is unable to reflect and to shape public opinion. Instead of direct support for Roma media, new networks which “care for“ our development are constantly created, and not only do they eat up a great deal of money but in addition, someone “backstage“ always wants to decide what is and what is not important to say. And this, in our opinion, is the main reason why year after year we must always ask the same question: how to depict the Roma in the media?
For this very purpose, Roma media have and must have the capability to shape public opinion in relation to the Roma. Indeed, who else but the Roma and Roma journalists should explain to the public who the Roma are? Who else should serve as a model for thousands of young people in settlements and supply them with the energy needed to battle with prejudice than those whom they can view as the equally valued partners of other media stars? Educated people who perceive their problems and are able to point them out.
We are in our fourth year of working in public broadcasting at Slovak Television and our first year on public radio. What we say, we say from our own experience: a journalist of Roma origin, who furthermore speaks to the Roma in their mother tongue (in our case, this involves a bilingual programme – Romanies-Slovak), is the best broker between the interests of the EU and national governments regarding integration (not assimilation) of the Roma. But such a journalist is able to address the majority viewer very effectively as well. Today only having a journalist of Roma origin on the screens of public television can show that the Roma are accepted as partners and that it is worthwhile to be educated. Unfortunately, attempts to push journalists of Roma origin through as individuals in the media, even though integrational, are not effective. Such people are under great pressure; they protect their own position and in the end result only stand as figureheads in the hands of the majority, which can then say: look, we have our own Gypsy! This is why it is time to say out loud: Support the Roma media, which will act as partners of the non-Roma media, and the result of this coproduction and partnership will be integration as well as a space to address other serious problems. Just as has begun to happen in Slovakia.

We therefore address this letter to you:

If this is to improve in any way, we ask all at once that the EU, the administrative bodies of the Decade of Roma Inclusion and national governments create national development programmes that support the Roma media, strategic documents guaranteeing the permanent sustainability of programmes which will allow them to strengthen their institutional development and function in the position of partners with a decisive voice. This would be an expression of the genuine acceptance and integration of the Roma. We are turning to the Slovak government, specifically the Slovak government‘s plenipotentiary for the Roma community, with a proposal for the creation of a national conception of development for the Roma media, and we are waiting for a response to it. We assume, however, that a common approach for a Roma media supported by institutes from the EU, would, however, be much more effective. We see this letter as a stimulus for starting a discussion on this subject. We assume that the time is now so long past, extremism is so long running riot, that this might be the last chance.


Kristína Magdolenová Jarmila Vaňová
Director Chief editor

[Valery Novoselsky]

Conference “Improving Roma participation through networking and media outreach”

16-17 November 2009

Romani role in the media – strategies, practices, goals

The role of modern mainstream media is essential in bringing to the forefront the Roma issue, in addressing the challenging areas the communities are facing and contributing to the removal of the negative stereotypes about Roma people. Nonetheless, these media organizations are equipped with their own set of rules and criterias that occasionally align with the concerns of ethnic minorities.

Mainstream journalism is considered to reproduce the stereotypes associated with different ethnic minorities. It still fails to allow a broader reflection on issues of social exclusion, structural violence, etc. Roma people are frequently associated with criminality, lack of education and other social problems. There seems to be a racism encoded in news reports which serves to distinguish the majority from the ethnic minorities and secure a sense of community, of “us”, of “our home” from “majority” point of view.

This professional failure in the area of media responsibility demands a greater role of Roma-initiated media to provide a better and clear picture of the everyday reality of Roma communities. This also brings up the issue of reliable journalism; the responsibility of any journalist is to report in a manner that, in the long run, will contribute to social inclusion of minorities and to the elimination of xenophobia.

The Decade of Roma Virtual Network

Since its establishment in July 1999 the Roma Virtual Network was and still is selective on the dissemination of well-sounding articles regarding Roma. Serving not merely as a “distribution platform”, but also as a monitoring and lobbying tool, RVN significantly contributed into the campaigns held by ERTF, ERIO, IRU, ERGO and other international Romani organizations. RVN attracted a big number of it’s subscribers (up to 23 000 these days) to sign the letters of protest, to participate in on-line voting, surveys, and to participate in numerous events in many countries.

Being adopted by International Romani Union (IRU) in July 2000 RVN is operating on a global scale and not centered solely on Europe, but covering the life and history of Roma and Domari communities on all continents. Due to joint efforts and persistent work of RVN`s advisory team and hundreds of volunteer correspondents this media unit today serves as:

- source of updated information on Roma issues;
- tool for the surveys and researches on topics related to Roma communities;
- debate platform;
- tool for location of like-minded circles and projects;
- lobbying and brain-storming force when the strong action is necessary.

The practice has shown that the results are better when Roma media entities (or media departments of INGOs) work together, or, at least, do not harm one another. And as an editor of RVN I can testify that the joint projects with RomNews Network, Dzeno, Romea and Radio Romano (Sweden) were productive and visible.

In the daily work with 32 electronic listserves on 15 European languages RVN addresses the following topics:

- social situation of Roma people in terms of economic conditions and access to education, housing, employment, human rights;
- reports and decisions aiming at social equality;
- activities of Roma society aiming at the improvement of their condition;
- incidents of conflict between Roma and non-Roma people;
- Roma in newly independent state of Kosovo;
- cultural features presenting the Roma culture and raising awareness about Roma issue;
- Roma Holocaust;
- participation of Roma minorities in the governments;
- migration of the Roma people;
- human trafficking.

The attention is always given to the source of news items, the contact information of the authors frequently shown, the connection with the editorial team of publishing source is provided upon request. The initiative of Roma authors is always welcomed and encouraged by posting of their written materials and photos via RVN`s listserves, often as an exclusive material. The information (usually from OSI, ERIO, ERRC, and CoE) on opportunities for Roma youth and on the vacancies for Roma experts is regularly and repeatedly disseminated. The long-term cooperation with such relatively new Roma media entities as Romani Mundi and KaskoSan.Com allows introducing the audience with fresh and comprehensive information about the life of Roma in different parts of the globe and providing the interaction with them via social networks.

Last, but not the least, in this list is the progressive role of social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube, in the communication between Roma activists and in elaboration of new projects.

Looking forward, learning from own experience

In order to achieve significant and positive results Roma media entities should be fast, flexible and responsive in locating up-to-date topics for reader’s attention, in demonstrating the depth of challenges Roma communities are facing, in showing the opportunities for advancement of community members (job vacancies, grants, scholarships, events, etc.), in providing a “green light” for young initiative Roma willing to work for community.

Thus, Roma media will continue to play an important role in shaping the way Roma perceive themselves, own culture, economic situation, discrimination and rights. Roma media will continue to serve as the means of self-assertion for a whole nation, who have been brutally oppressed for centuries. Roma media will continue to foster communication within Roma communities striving for emancipation and inclusion as equal citizens. By supplying mainstream media with quality features related to Roma issues, they can influence mainstream media coverage and non-Roma society in a positive sense. And the same media entities can be a first-hand source for non-Roma due to availability of materials on the languages of majority population.

The Decade of Roma Inclusion is a chance for the progress of this work. None else, but Roma media can perform a better work to reach such goals as: creating communications between state institutions and Roma; offering tools for articulation of priority needs of Roma communities; contributing to improved coverage of Roma issues in the mainstream media.

Valery Novoselsky, Editor of Roma Virtual Network
http://www.valery-novoselsky.org/romavirtualnetwork.html

Bibliography:

Media Coverage of Roma Issues. By Nicolina Markidou. July 2008.
http://www.advocacynet.org/modules/fck/upload/file/mediacoverageofr...

Roma Integration Through Media: Roma Radio in East and Southeast Europe.
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/sipa/nelson/newmediadev/Roma%20Media.html

Rrommedia Network: Roma Media Network
http://www.rrommedia.net/english/index.php?option=com_content&t...

[Valery Novoselsky]

Learn on Mundi Romani media project via Facebook on http://www.facebook.com/mundi.romani

Send your comments and questions to project`s director Ms Katalin Barsony at [e-mail]