In the coverage of forced migration by European mainstream media, the voice of migrants is often absent. However, a new counter-movement of independent crónica is emerging, seeking to redefine and reimagine dominant narratives of migration. In the new crónica of migration, migrants are no longer relegated to the role of mere ‘informants’ but as ‘owners’ and authors of their own stories.
Unravelling success in alternative migration narratives
Alternative narratives can seem difficult to hear amid the overwhelmingly negative discourse surrounding migration. However, this is a problem inasmuch as less dominant and less foregrounded narratives are crucial to an inclusive democracy. An important part in this is the work NGOs are doing in developing and fostering alternative migration narratives as well as actively countering xenophobic narratives.
New ways of telling migration narratives: a Toolkit
This Toolkit aims to be useful for those stakeholders working to change dominant narratives on migration. To this end, it summarises the types of audiences to which migration narratives are addressed to, and the main rules and considerations to take into account to effectively build new, alternative narratives on migration.
A comparative analysis of innovative strategies against exclusionary discourses
This Working Paper brings together key findings on innovative strategies against exclusionary narratives on migration in Germany, Italy, and Spain. It compares crucial insights and draws conclusions that feed into recommendations for other civil society organisations.
Innovative strategies against exclusionary narratives: the case of Spain
This Working Paper examines two civil society organisations that have succeeded in spreading inclusive narratives on migration across Spain – Stop Mare Mortum and RegularizaciónYa –, analysing the nature of these narratives, their audience, their composition, their ambition, and their impact.
Innovative strategies against exclusionary narratives: the case of Italy
This Working Paper examines two civil society organisations that have succeeded in spreading inclusive discourses on migration across Italy – Accolgo and Dalla parte giusta della storia –, focusing on how they construct their networks, their communication strategies and their narratives.
Innovative strategies against exclusionary narratives: the case of Germany
This Working Paper investigates alternative, counter-hegemonic narratives on migration in Germany, focusing on the cases of two civil society organisations – Seebrücke and Netzwerk medien.vielfalt! – that successfully managed to enter the hegemonic discourse on migration in this country.
Dwindling narratives
Will the Italian right continue a pragmatic mitigation of its initially uncompromising anti-migrationist and sovereignist narrative? Or will it persist in an ambiguous mix of threat frames and utilitarian arguments speaking to the wallet of the electorate? This op-ed by Ferruccio Pastore reflects on the structural constraints faced by Giorgia Meloni’s sovereignist migration narrative after she took power in October 2022.
Migration narrative in media and social media: the case of Germany
This Working Paper analyses the main narratives on migration developed in traditional and social media around three different case studies in Germany: the debate over taking in refugees from the Moria camp after a fire in September 2020; a new integration law in 2016; and the terrorist attack in Berlin in December 2016.
Migration narratives in media and social media: the case of France
This Working Paper analyses the main narratives on migration developed in traditional and social media around three different case studies in France: the terrorist attack on the Nice basilica in 2020; the irregular crossings from Calais to the UK through the Channel Tunnel in 2015; and the burkini controversy in 2016.
Migration narratives in media and social media: the case of Spain
This Working Paper analyses the main narratives on migration developed in traditional and social media around three events in Spain: the Ceuta migration crisis in May 2021; the publication of a poster on unaccompanied minors by the extreme-right party VOX; and the terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils.
A comparative analysis of migration narratives in traditional and social media
This Working Paper compares the production of narratives on migration in the media arena in six different European countries – France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, and the UK –, focusing on the ingredients, actors, circumstances, strategies, and infrastructure of narrative success.
