Background to the Research

• In 1996, the author carried out a review of the coverage of minority ethnic groups by five regional newspapers. She found that the way minority ethnic groups were reported in NI generally reflected wider trends. Where minority groups were featured, the reports tended to concern 'bad news' stories or problems faced by minority ethnic communities. This pattern also has the unfortunate effect of reinforcing an image of minority ethnic groups as 'problematic'.
• While it is difficult to show a clear, direct link between media coverage and public attitudes, there is little doubt that the media is influential in shaping parameters within which minority ethnic groups are viewed and discussed by the white, settled community.
  

Research Approach

• This study is a follow up to the 1996 research and is based on an analysis of articles in the regional and local weekly press in NI between January 1998 and July 1999.
• The study also draws on the author's previous investigation of media coverage of minority ethnic groups referred to above (Fawcett, 1998). Neither study examines television or radio output.
  

Main Findings

• In general, minority ethnic groups in NI appear to be receiving more coverage in the regional press than was the case two years ago.
• The minority ethnic group which is accorded most media prominence in NI is the Traveller community. Most of this coverage appears in local weekly newspapers and much of it is negative.
• It is clear from news reports of council debates that some councillors in NI view Travellers as second-class citizens.
• Double standards also operate in the way court cases involving Travellers are reported. There were several examples of entirely superfluous references to the fact that someone charged with an offence was a Traveller.
• Stereotypes and a sense of 'otherness' are often reinforced through the visual images of Travellers which newspapers carry. The photographs which accompany news reports tend to be of caravans with no occupants in sight, thereby rendering Traveller people invisible.
• During the period covered by this research, extensive coverage was given in the national press and Irish media to various issues surrounding both asylum seekers and refugees. Yet, there was relatively little coverage in the local media. Where NI newspapers did report on these issues, their coverage was generally good.
• One issue which has received minimal coverage in the regional press is the fact that those asylum seekers who are detained in NI have to share accommodation with convicted prisoners at either Magilligan Prison, if they are male, or Maghaberry Prison, if they are female.

Conclusions

• Coverage of Travellers is the single biggest issue of concern with regard to press reporting of minority ethnic groups in NI. However, most of the coverage examined for this research is characteristic of reactive, passive reporting.
• There are two particularly notable sources of negative stories about Travellers in local weekly newspapers. One is council debates which tend to be reported in a passive manner. The other is the tendency to make prominent reference to the fact that a person charged with a crime is a Traveller, where this is the case.
• While each of the regional daily newspapers can be recommended for some of its coverage of minority ethnic groups during the period studied, only one paper had a reasonably consistent record of covering conferences and report launches organised by minority representative groups.
• The media is not solely responsible for the coverage minority ethnic groups receive. Organisations representing minority ethnic groups may not have as much influence as they would like over the media's agenda, but they can take steps which should help to improve media coverage.
• The report is accompanied by two sets of recommendations. One is aimed at journalists and editors, and comprises a guide to good practice in reporting issues relating to minority ethnic groups. The other is a series of steps which could be taken by the Equality Commission and groups representing minority ethnic groups to help improve coverage.