Report realized in European Media Work Exchanges in MARS programme UE, 2012

Cristina Silion (Viata Libera Daily newspaper, Galati, Romania) Willy Totoro (Association of Recognized Refugees Cyprus)

Non-Discrimination and Antiracism in Media practice and rules in Cyprus and Romania
SOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 1. To monitor the phenomena of discrimination in media. We saw that no public institution has the job to monitor in which degree the press is discriminatory and with whom. There are information only about complains and the modality the institution solved it. We found only a report (2011) of ENAR organizations in Cyprus and Romania, treating with the discrimination in mass media. An annual report of a public institution or a nongovernmental organization will give a real image of this phenomenon and will provide useful information to the direction to action. 2. Raising the awareness of the journalists. In Cyprus, the Office of the Commissioner has issued a Guideline for the Media against racism, xenophobia and discrimination. The issue presents general principles and suggestions for the positive contribution of the media towards combatting phenomena of different types of discriminations. For example, the journalists are guided to use correct and precise terminology for reporting each case of refugee or immigrant (irregular immigrant in place of illegal immigrant). The brochure also presents a general overview of both the European and national institutional frameworks against discrimination including specific references to the operation of the media. The texts existing in the law and in the ethics codes of the journalist concerning the non-discrimination are explicated in this brochure. We think that similar brochures, presenting also good practices, must be issued for Romanians journalist too. In

collaboration with media organizations, the NGOs acting on human rights or with the discriminated groups could propose their own guidelines. This NGOs could have another important role in stopping or decreasing this phenomena. They must organize local, regional or national seminars or workshops for training journalists in diversity reporting and in effective ways to overcome stereotypical portrayal of groups facing discrimination. Also, we think that some contests will encourage the journalists to improve their skills in writing about different communities. 3. Raising the awareness of the people. Also, we discovered that people may not be aware of their rights of complaining in a case of discrimination made by a journalist. Even if the institutions in the anti-discrimination field have issued brochures to improve knowledge of discrimination by raising awareness among the population, there is not enough, at least concerning the media. Reported to cases of racism or discrimination in this field, there are so few complains. In Romania, at the national level, there is a Council of Antidiscrimination which receives complaints of any kind of discrimination and can deal also with discrimination inside the media. In Cyprus, the same roles have Equality Authority and Anti-Discrimination Body, both included in Office of the Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman). Also, they can report a possible discrimination on TV or radio at The National Council of Audiovisual (in Romania) and at The Cyprus Radiotelevision Authority. The Cypriots can make a complaint at The Cyprus Media Complaints Commission and the Romanians could request to the local or national journalists organizations to analyze a certain declaration in media. So, if a possible discriminatory attitude would be signaled at the three different institutions, which have different ways to mediate it, the pressure in the media would be much bigger and the concern for this subject will increase . 4. Improve the activity of some public or independent institution. In Cyprus and in Romania, a possible discriminatory (or racist) programme may be reported by e-mail or even by telephone, at the audiovisual authorities. Nevertheless, in Romania, the procedure of complaining is more bureaucratic in the case of National Council against

Discrimination. A person who has a complaint has no way other than sending a petition with all the documents joint. In Cyprus, The Ombusdman institution is more easily to contact, by e-mail or even by phone. What we saw is that the Ombudsman is very well organized, works promptly and it is much opened to the people. Is has also an important activity in rising awareness of people in different fields. In this time, The National Council against Discrimination in Romania has a bureaucratic way to submitting complaints and so few concretes actions in decreasing the phenomena. So, one of our recommendation concerns the improvement of this councils efficiency, but this could not be done without the governmental support. The human and financial support is a also a problem for the audiovisual bodies for example, they could propose to monitor the discriminatory acts in media, but they have no human resources to do it. Also, we signaled that in both countries there is the practice to do some recommendations to prevent others similar recurrences in media, before applying a fine. It is a good way to rising the awareness and the shame of being accused in public for their comportment (in the case which the media institution is obliged to publish the recommendation) could be, for some journalists or media institutions, a reason not to do it again. For example, the Ombudsman never gave a fine for complains concerning the media field. Also, the audiovisual authorities give first a warning, then a recommendation and after many violations of the law a fine. But often these recommendations and even the fines themselves are not discouraging this kind of attitude. Do not forget that the audience brings money in media. And sometimes, a discriminatory way to present an event or a group could bring a bigger audience than objective news. So, we wonder if bigger amends could make the media institutions more aware of what they are supplying to their public. 5. Improve the self regulation of the journalists. In Romania could operate an independent commission treating the complaints against the journalists, as the Cypriot one does. 6. To promote their own communities. It is very important that the representatives of the NGOs have to improve their collaboration with journalists, to know the media agenda, to send background information to the journalists when necessary or even to be a source for a story presenting positively a discriminated group of people. This role could be also taken

by a leader of the group or the community, recognized both by media and by people whom he represents.