Reporting on refugees and migrants requires more than compassion.
It requires editorial discipline, context, ethical judgement, and a clear understanding of how media narratives shape public attitudes toward already vulnerable communities.
Across the world, millions of people live through forced displacement, migration pressure, conflict, persecution, and uncertainty. In such conditions, careless reporting can do real harm. Sensational headlines, weak verification, dehumanising language, and one-sided framing can deepen stigma and make public understanding even weaker.
I was grateful to represent the media fraternity at a half-day seminar organised by INTI International University Nilai on the challenges faced by refugees and migrants.
My presentation focused on the role of media in refugee and migrant journalism, including editorial responsibility, interviewing ethics, common field mistakes, and the need to report displacement stories with dignity, accuracy, and proper context.
One point I strongly shared was this:
Media does not only report public perception. It also shapes it.
In many societies, local communities already carry stereotypes about refugees and migrants. They may see them only through the lens of burden, illegality, competition, insecurity, or social pressure. If media keeps repeating only crisis-driven frames, those stereotypes become stronger.
This is where migrant journalism has a deeper responsibility.
Responsible reporting can help audiences see refugees and migrants as human beings with skills, labour, resilience, family responsibilities, cultural knowledge, and economic potential. It can show how migrants contribute to local economies, fill labour gaps, support small businesses, participate in community life, and strengthen social and economic activity when given fair opportunities.
This does not mean romanticising the issue or ignoring real policy challenges.
It means reporting the full picture.
When media reframes migrant and refugee stories with balance, evidence, and dignity, it can reduce fear and create space for more informed public debate. That directly connects with SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, because inequality is not only created by policy. It is also reinforced by language, framing, visibility, and public attitudes.
We also discussed the connection with SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth. Migrant and refugee stories are often labour stories, livelihood stories, and human development stories. When reported responsibly, they can help societies understand contribution, not only vulnerability.
Refugee and migrant journalism should not be treated in isolation.
Governments, authorities, media organisations, civil society, NGOs, refugees, migrants, and citizen journalists all operate within the same communication space. When they work separately, gaps appear. When they work within a shared communication frame, public understanding becomes more responsible and less reactive.
These stories are not just about movement from one place to another.
They are about dignity, systems, economic participation, policy, identity, access, rights, social protection, and public accountability.
For journalists and media organisations, the responsibility is clear: report with accuracy, avoid harm, challenge stereotypes, protect vulnerable voices, and give audiences the context they need to understand the full picture.
When those standards are respected, journalism can become part of the solution instead of adding to fear, stigma, or confusion.
I remain thankful to AIBD, INTI International University Nilai, and Ms Cheryl Witha for the honour and trust extended to me.
