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ASYLUM SEEKERS IN SCOTLAND

CHAPTER SEVEN: MEDIA MONITORING

7.1 INTRODUCTION

In order to provide context for the study and to explore potential media impacts while the study was in progress, media coverage was monitored through the period of research by systematic review, using the Lexis-Nexis database, and content analysis of a sample of media coverage was carried out. In addition, all interviewees were asked about their views on the role of the media. In this chapter, we review the content of media coverage, and discuss it in relation to interviewees' views about the content and impact of media.

Media monitoring was carried out over a seven month period - January to July 2002 - accessing the Lexis-Nexis database and the Scottish Asylum Seekers Consortium News Monitor which provided a month by month review of the main issues relating to asylum seekers. The Lexis-Nexis Executive News Plus is a collection of databases containing in total around 2,300 UK and overseas newspapers, newswires and magazines, going back in some cases for 20 years. It is divided into two sections: 'News' which covers the full content of UK and overseas newspapers and 'News and Company' which focuses on company information, financial data and news items relating to companies. The Scottish Asylum Seekers Consortium News Monitor is an archive of related news stories.

7.2 MEDIA CONTENT

Table 7.1 indicates the extent of media coverage during the research period. Using the keyword 'asylum seeker', the database pulled up every UK news story, which satisfied the research request. This is indicated by the right hand column in the table and would include every document that had 'asylum seeker' buried within the story. As the number of hits returned usually exceeded 700 per month, the search was refined by restricting to UK news - major news articles, indicated by the left hand column. This option ensured that the search terms appeared within the headline or lead portion of the article.

Table 7.1: Extent of media coverage - number of hits - January - July 2002

Press coverage during the research period was extensive and often controversial. The intense media interest in asylum issues was evident in the number of articles printed per month. The term 'asylum seeker' appeared in a variety of apparently non-related news stories, without having any immediately apparent links to the main story covered. It would appear that linking 'asylum seekers' to diverse news reporting serves to keep the issue firmly in the public domain. It was therefore our intention to monitor the extent of media coverage and also to identify and explore some of the main issues covered.

Table 7.2 highlights the issues with the greatest media coverage over the research period. Over the seven months monitored some issues dominated - the Sangatte camp; security concerns at Eurotunnel; the proposed locations of new accommodation centres; and government policies relating to immigration and asylum.

Other issues included incidents that resulted in widespread reporting - the fire at Yarl's Wood detention centre; Mr Blunkett's statement that children of asylum seekers were 'swamping' education and the police raid on a mosque to remove Afghanis awaiting deportation.

On the international scene, media attention was given to other countries and their asylum policies - Woomera detention centre in Australia reached the headlines with reports of hunger strikes and asylum seekers escaping; the political right was on the rise in Europe; Pim Fortyn, right wing politician, was murdered in Holland; immigration was top of the agenda at the EU summit and protesting asylum seekers sewed their lips together at Sangatte.

Scottish issues included concern for the Euro link and its effects on Scotland; the proposed siting of an accommodation centre in Edinburgh; issues at Dungavel detention centre and new local authorities preparing to welcome asylum seekers.

Table 7.2: Most widely reported issues for each month of research period.

Table 7.2 contd: Most widely reported issues for each month of the research period

Table 7.2 contd: Most widely reported issues for each month of the research period

7.3 TONE OF REPORTING

The influence of terms and connotations of words used by the media is not to be underestimated. Throughout the monitoring phase the following terms appeared to be used interchangeably with asylum seeker, blurring the differences between those genuinely fleeing persecution and genuine economic migrants: 'immigrant', 'illegal immigrant', 'refugee', 'economic migrant'. The negative language used by the media also called into question the reliability of asylum claimants, for example, 'bogus refugees', 'asylum cheats', 'migrants scam', 'crook refugees', 'illegals'; 'bogus asylum seeker' . The last term, 'bogus', highlights the seemingly judgmental nature of some news reporting.

During the period of the research, it appeared that it was often the headlines that caused the greatest impact. These headlines and subsequent stories seemed to be highly influential in creating impressions of asylum seekers. There was a belief amongst research respondents that during the research period the media coverage had been overly negative towards asylum seekers.

Focusing on headlines, Table 7.3 highlights some examples that appear to cast asylum seekers and asylum issues in a negative light. The criterion for including a headline in the table was the use of a negative word or phrase to describe asylum seekers and asylum issues.

Table 7.3: Examples of headlines that appear negative in tone : January - July 2002

Table 7.3 contd.: Examples of headlines that appear negative in tone January-July 2002

Some negative headlines appeared to endorse racist views that asylum seekers brought diseases, were not legitimate asylum seekers and were only here to avail themselves of the better social provisions of the UK.

The language of the media and some politicians can be considered to reinforce these myths by asserting the need to toughen asylum policies. All images portrayed of asylum seekers are likely to affect the way people respond to them both in thought and behaviour. They way reinforce negative stereotypes already held, or misinformation currently circulating.

Table 7.4, in contrast, highlights some examples of headlines that appear to cast asylum seekers and asylum issues in a positive light. The criteria for including a headline in the table were positive descriptions or highlighting contributions of asylum seekers.

Table 7.4: Examples of headlines that appear positive in tone January - July 2002

As can be noted, the number of headlines with a negative tone far outnumbered those with a positive tone. Generally, more positive coverage appeared in the Scottish press. A number of headlines advanced the view that the skills of asylum seekers could benefit their host nation and that they had much to contribute. Other reports fell into the human interest category, detailing awards and experiences of individual asylum seekers currently living in Britain. There appeared to be a lack of news articles giving factual information about the conditions and treatment of asylum seekers in the countries from which they fled or which included the views of those seeking asylum in Britain. There is a need for the promotion of positive images of asylum seekers through factual information being available to the media, as well as awareness raising and anti-racism strategies. There is also a need for organisations working with asylum seekers to be able to provide consistent and accurate information to those in the media as well as highlighting examples of good practice.

Several organisations interviewed had, as we noted, adopted media strategies which tried to ensure accurate media coverage and to promote more positive stories. Research respondents felt that that stories about asylum seekers had become slightly more positive within the last year or so, suggesting a potential impact of these strategies. Interestingly, few had forged links with national and local politicians whose comments could also have an important role in promoting positive images of asylum seekers and refugees.

7.4 SCOTTISH HEADLINES

The table of Scottish headlines in Appendix One highlights the headlines from a Scottish perspective. Criteria for including a headline in the table were keywords relating to asylum issues from a Scottish newspaper. These are the headlines that were in the news during the period of research.

Glasgow and Edinburgh have received considerable media coverage as have the local authorities in consultation with the National Asylum Support Service. Some of the smaller, local newspapers created positive images of asylum seekers by highlighting events, exhibitions and local community events, and in general, the coverage appears to have been less negative in Scotland as compared with the UK wide press. This may suggest the effectiveness of the media strategies adopted by Scottish organisations.

7.5 IMPACT OF MEDIA

The evidence suggests that media coverage of asylum issues creates a discourse made up of assumptions and beliefs about asylum seekers, many of which may be false. A number of the headlines create uncertainty about the numbers of asylum seekers seeking entry into Britain, with talk of 'invasions of foreigners'; comments that Britain is a 'soft touch' for 'bogus refugees' casting doubt on the eligibility of those seeking asylum. Frequent reference is also made to the cost of supporting asylum seekers by British taxpayers.

Media images of asylum seekers are likely to have an impact on the asylum seekers themselves and on community relations. If asylum seekers are viewed with suspicion and hostility, it is likely to be more difficult to make friends thus intensifying a lack of social support. This may ultimately affect acceptance by the local community and future integration. Negative media images are likely to reinforce negative stereotypes.

Rather than a media which predominantly promotes and reflects negative views, local people need to know factual information about why asylum seekers from various countries are in Britain claiming asylum. The press could play an important role in presenting factual information that will allow people the opportunity to review the facts for themselves.

7.6 RESPONSES TO MEDIA COVERAGE

As part of the research study, all interviewees were asked about their views on the role of the media. The issues raised by different groups of respondents are highlighted below. All the groups saw the role of the media as negative.

7.6.1 Service providers

Media activity was seen as unhelpful by many service providers, who had developed media strategies to try and counter what they saw as misinformation, and the promotion of negativity towards asylum seekers.

Nearly all respondents felt that the media played a particularly negative role in coverage of asylum seeker issues, especially in the early stages of dispersal, and considerable anger was expressed by a number of respondents at the way in which the media were perceived as having made the situation worse.

The end result has been a good one but that was because the community united together against the negative image of Sighthill put forward by the press.

To counteract this, almost half of the service providers involved in the study had developed a media strategy for responding to coverage of asylum seeker issues which touched on the role of their organisation.

Local authorities negotiating contracts with NASS were very conscious of the need to have a robust media strategy, with a strong principle of rebutting misleading stories.

We've taken on board all the work done by Glasgow. It's basically about putting the information out and getting the press on board. At the moment, it's mainly factual information. We've produced a leaflet that's gone out to all agencies and that will go out to households nearer the time, which addresses some of the myths about asylum seekers.

Local authorities were often working with journalists on locally-based newspapers to inform them of the issues, as well as utilising in-house newspapers and magazines, aimed at both staff and residents. As we have noted, some of these activities appeared to be having results in the more positive coverage.

7.6.2 Community organisations

Many community based groups saw part of their role to be lobbying relevant authorities and confronting negative media images of asylum seekers.

Some community groups were particularly critical of media activity in promoting hostility towards asylum seekers

I think the majority of the community has reacted as well as they could be expected to, with the lack of information and the constantly negative media and political representations of asylum seekers.

Community organisations felt that journalists failed to check basic facts within stories and often sought to deliberately sensationalise stories, seeking out suitably negative and inflammatory views.

Where press releases had been issued regarding new projects or new resources being introduced, it was felt that they had been inadequately reported in the newspapers. This reinforced the view of many organisations that journalists were only interested in 'sensationalist' stories. A number of interviewees complained that stories about asylum seekers constantly referred to Sighthill, regardless of whether the asylum seekers concerned lived there or not.

The generally negative approach of the press was seen as being extremely prejudicial to the development of good community relations:

The constant negative attention given to asylum seekers has only reinforced, for local people, that asylum seekers are a problem that they are being forced to deal with, that they are 'spongers', and that there is no such thing as a good asylum seeker, no matter what the evidence of their everyday contact is. It creates tension because almost every night local people are seeing stories that virtually encourage them to treat asylum seekers badly. At the same time, asylum seekers are scared of this negative attention. The tension created is one that it is very difficult for any local activities to tackle.

This comment reflects the potential for media to tap into existing negative views and to reinforce and promote them. Among these respondents, there was almost complete unanimity amongst community groups that the media had a responsibility to report issues accurately and to take responsibility for the effects which their stories might have.

This antagonism towards the press did not, however, extend towards the smaller local papers, which were praised for their community focus and their willingness to interact with local agencies which were working with asylum seekers. These newspapers were praised for reporting local events and positive stories.

The only consistently good reporting has been from the local newspaper, the Springburn Herald , which reports every story as a local interest one and will put in positive news stories.

There had also been positive coverage of particular events, such as Refugee Week, which were seen as being helpful in the longer term:

The local community got good coverage and 'good press' during Refugee Week, which has created a sense of pride within the community and has encouraged interaction and integration with the asylum seekers.

7.6.3 Asylum seekers

Asylum seekers, like other respondents, felt that the media had portrayed them negatively, and told misleading stories about them. They made links between the negative coverage and some of their experiences in Glasgow. About one third of asylum seekers interviewed continued to experience harassment and racism in all areas of the city. Many respondents did not feel safe or secure in their neighbourhood, were afraid to go out, or to allow their children to play outside. It would be a mistake to see these experiences as entirely the result of media activity, but there is a strong suggestion that negative coverage could support racism and harassment.

On the other hand, many respondents welcomed the security they now experienced in Scotland, in contrast with the circumstances they had left behind. As time went on, developing social relationships with local Glasgow people, and with other asylum seekers became increasingly important. These experiences serve to counter the overall media tone, revealing that whilst the coverage may have tapped into racism, it was failing to reflect the more positive approach of many people in Glasgow.

7.7 CONCLUDING POINTS

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