From left to right: Clare Short MP,
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Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Professor Roy Greenslade,
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Kevin Maguire, Bob Satchwell
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• The importance of the media’s role in • How can the media be encouraged to cover
promoting human rights positive human rights stories and some of the
Panellists disagreed about the extent of the
good work that small organisations do?
media’s influence. For Bob Satchwell, the media
Bob Satchwell advised delegates to recognise
has the potential to be “hugely powerful” for
that the media may be able to help if approached
the human rights agenda. Journalism itself is
in the right way. Rather than complaining about
premised on the right to freedom of expression-
negative coverage of human rights issues, we
even though this right is increasingly undermined
should find positive stories and use these as
by anti-terrorism legislation. Bob quoted the
examples – this is what will make people listen.
American journalist H. L. Mencken who said:
Roy Greenslade recommended a “superb”
“journalism is about comforting the afflicted and
pamphlet called ‘Reporting Poverty’ which
afflicting the comfortable.”
explains how newspapers could be more
Clare Short MP warned that we should not
positive in their coverage of this issue
7
.
to be “too mesmerised” by the media, especially
Tackling the media head-on can also yield
given that newspapers are losing circulation. She
positive results. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown noted
noted that the bulk of the British population is
how Polish people “got a very raw deal in some
frequently at odds with the owners of the press.
of the tabloids over and over again” but then “set
up their own group, and started getting on to
Gaza is a good example of this: both the main
these tabloid papers” to the point where she can
political parties are supportive of Israel but the
see an “absolute change” in the way that Polish
majority of the population is not, and the media
migration is covered.
is limited in its critique.
Kevin Maguire added that whilst the Daily Mail
• How can we engage with the press who are
is “possibly the most powerful, influential voice
hostile to the Human Rights Act?
in newspapers […] there are limitations on its
BIHR clarified that a journalist from the Daily
ability to influence and it has been on the losing
Mail had declined an invitation to participate in
side in the last three general elections, and so the present discussion.
we shouldn’t get carried away and nor should Bob Satchwell argued that there are stories
22
politicians”. which papers like the Daily Mail might pick up if
7 Available from: www.jrf.org.uk/publications/reporting-poverty-uk-practical-guide-journalists
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