[oman-l] Racist media challenge

[Parveez Syed]

Wednesday 13 August 1997, London-UK 

From: Parveez Syed
Global Media Monitoring Unit
Shanti Communications
One Stuart Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 8RA1 UK
Tel: London-UK 44-0831-196693
Fax: 44-0181-405-4735
E-Mail INTERNET: PARVEEZ@CR78RA1UK.WIN-UK.NET

Copyright 1997 (c) Shanti Communications news agency. All rights
reserved. The following feature may not be republished or
redistributed, in whole or in part. Copying, storing, transfer,
redistribution, retransmission, publication and exploitation of
this information is hereby expressly forbidden without the prior
written consent of Shanti Communications UK. 

European Year against Racism ends with a challenge to media
by Parveez Syed (c) Shanti RTV

LONDON-UK (SC/SRTV) - The media ethics organisation "PressWise"
has teamed up with publishers Camden Press, the Community Radio
Association and Shanti Communications news agency to run a forum
on racism and the media at the Abbey Community Centre (in
central London-UK) on Saturday 29 November 1997, followed by a
musical evening celebrating cultural diversity.

'Telling it like it is - the experience of racism and the
media' is designed to generate discussion between the public,
journalists, programme-makers and regulators about the way
ethnic minorities are represented in the media, the problem
they face in the media work place, and the difficulty of
obtaining adequate redress when discriminatory material is
published. This will be no ordinary talk shop. There will be
workshops on DIY community media projects and techniques for
countering racism. Then there are plans for a simultaneous
cyber-conference to draw in experiences from overseas and
demonstrate the value of using the Internet as a means of
challenging discrimination. The interactive cyber-conference
would draw people into the debate from all over the world. To
round up the event, broadcaster Alex Pascal OBE will be hosting
the cultural evening featuring music, comedy and poetry, etc
from around the world. 

Among those taking part will be commissioner Michael Hastings of
CRE (Commission of Racial Equality), which is also supporting
the event along with NUJ (National Union of Journalists), the
IFJ (International Federation of Journalists), the Glasgow Media
Group, the Joint Council for Welfare of Immigrants, civil rights
campaigner Liberty, University of East London New Ethnicities
Unit, the Runnymede Trust and many others. 

The aim is to promote dialogue, and to share information about
the relationship between enthnic minority groups and the media,
and the regulatory bodies to appreciate the special nature of
the conflict caused by divisive reporting. 

As one of the closing contribution towards European Year Against
Racism (EYAR), the Forum promises an ideal networking opportunity
to open up new directions for future action in the continuing
struggle to achieve equality and tolerance. There will be
opportunities to discuss and debate ways of improving media
coverage with journalists and media regulators. It is an open
forum looking forward to a better future. 

Shanti RTV news agency is gathering information about the impact
on people's lives of racist and discriminatory coverage in the
print and broadcast media outlets. It is preparing for a number
of news features on the subjects. "Shanti Communications is keen
to hear from readers about any difficulty they have as a result
of the way an issue or event had been handled by the media, or
their community has been misrepresented," according to a
spokesperson at Shanti RTV. "We are especially keen to hear from
those willing to speak out and help us prepare fact sheets and
news features on the subjects". 

There are several ways in which publishers, broadcasters,
readers and viewers can help the initiative:

1: Publish or circulate this news feature;

2: Help gather evidence about the consequences of racist or
   discriminatory reporting; 

3: Offer sponsorship to help underwrite the factual features or
   tv documentaries - by contributing to the overall cost; by
   sponsoring; or by running free promotional advertorials;

4: Prepare and present a paper to Shanti Communications

ends
Presented by: Shanti RTV (c) 13 August 1997
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Parveez Syed's direct contact details are:
One Stuart Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 8RA1 UK
Tel: London-UK 44-0831-196693; Fax: 44-0181-405-4735
E-Mail INTERNET: parveez@cr78ra1uk.win-uk.net 
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Food for thought?: "World-class, global air media is the only
invisible member of the UN Security Council. The media invade
billions of minds and hearts everyday," - Parveez Syed.
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