THE MIGRATION MEDIA AWARDS: MIGRATION NEEDS BETTER REPORTING - NEW MEDIA COMPETITION AWARDS 35 JOURNALISTS

The first edition of the Migration Media Award awarded 35 journalists from 16 countries for their journalistic excellence on migration in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The award ceremony was held on 14th June evening in Valletta, Malta, under the auspices of Malta’s EU presidency. The winning entries feature fact-based and impartial reporting on the complexity of migration, its many challenges and opportunities. High quality reporting as rewarded by the new journalistic competition is urgently needed to improve people’s understanding of migration.

Dateline: Valetta, Malta 14/06/2017

Source: www.openmediahub.com 

“This production was supported by OPEN Media Hub with funds provided by the European Union” 

Further links to the stories and awardees: 

Press release: 
http://www.icmpd.org/news-centre/news-detail/press-release-migration-needs-better-reporting-new-media-competition-awards-35-journalists/ 

Winners:
http://www.migration-media-award.eu/en/winners 

Open Media Hub 
https://openmediahub.com/2017/06/14/migration-needs-better-reporting-new-media-competition-awards-35-journalists/

The first edition of the Migration Media Award awards 35 journalists from 16 countries for their journalistic excellence on migration in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The award ceremony was held on 14th June evening in Valletta, Malta, under the auspices of Malta’s EU presidency. The winning entries feature fact-based and impartial reporting on the complexity of migration, its many challenges and opportunities. High quality reporting as rewarded by the new journalistic competition is urgently needed to improve people’s understanding of migration.

GV’s Valetta- street scenes-port location of the venue Upper Barrakka gardens, saluting battery, journalists, ITV, award ceremony, except of: Migration Media Award: First Place TV (English) Author: Marco Panzetti, for “Il Manifesto”, “Regards”, “The Times”, “Los Angeles Times”, “Diari Ara”

The 1st edition of “Migration Media Award” ceremony was held in Valletta, Malta on the evening of June 14. This award set by ICMPD and the Maltese MFA (International center for migration policy development and the Maltese Ministry for foreign Affairs and the Open Media Hub and the EASO Eropean Asylum Support Office) rewards excellence of journalism on migration.

The ceremony brought together journalists who have worked on the issue of migration from both sides of the Mediterranean which in 2017 has witnessed over 75 000 migrants crossing and an estimated death toll of 1800. 

ITV:  Michael Spindelegger, Director General, International Centre for Migration Policy Development;

“Public opinion is very much influenced by single articles by tv spots by every magazine that are dealing with migration issues and what we have seen is there is no balanced reporting of what is really happening “

ITV: Sören Bauer, senior communication and knowledge officer ICMPD. 

“the complexity of the phenomenon of both immigration and emigration requires, for people to better understand, requires journalists to better report on it “
Speakers at the event emphasized the important role played by the media in reporting the plight of the migrants. How the narratives of stories on Migration should foster more debates based on facts and figures 

ITV: Carmelo Abela Maltese Minister for foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion: 
“Migration is both a global challenge and a global opportunity requiring responsible management and solidarity by all states”

35 journalists from 16 countries received awards and shared their experience about reporting on emigration and immigration, an issue far more complex than the most well-known aspect the flight of the refugees. 

Excerpts troubled waters

ITV:Marco Panzetti  journalist 1ST prize video/English winner

“Seeing the situation with your own eyes, is definitely something that is life changing; you don t go back to where you were before; you see these people coming with nothing”

ITV: Catarina Santos journalist 1st prize radio 

“Radio has the power of appealing to our imagination more than any other media and I think with this subject there is a lot we can do to empower the stories taking them to the public to the audience”

The awardees will receive funding to produce a new story 

ITV: Sameh Ellaboody 1st Prize in video 

“My next story which I will get funds for after the award, is a story about traffickers of illegal migrants, and the fights among the smugglers which lead to deliberate sinking of boats of illegal migrants”

ITV : DOMINIQUE THIERRY  Team leader Open Media Hub

“With this Migration Media Award, we are helping to change the way media reports on migration, go away from sensationalist stories, move towards more human interest, deeper analysis of what is going on and having a sense a meaning attached to it “

END