More Colour in the Media

This publication is based on the study More Colour in the Media which was completed in March 1999 by the European Institute for the Media together with STOA (the foundation for migrants and the media in the Netherlands), the European Centre for Work and Society, and the University of Luton. The study was initiated by a transnational network of national media and minority organisations and was supported financially by the Programme Leonardo Da Vinci and DG-V of the European Commission.

The marginalisation of 'ethnic minority' groups is often confirmed by their omission from broadcast reality. Making cultural diversity part of the reality of television and radio would have a profound effect on the perceptions and attitudes of the public by providing immigrant and ethnic minority communities with positive role models and society as such with a more balanced portrayal of these groups.

The 'More Colour in the Media' research aims to provide information and analysis of the employment situation of 'ethnic minority' groups and their professional access to the television industry, in order to combat exclusion and work towards a media landscape that corresponds more to the multi-cultural and pluralistic realities in Europe.

Five countries were selected for the research: Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and Finland. However, the specific situation of 'ethnic minority' groups in television is seen as embedded in the general structures and dynamics of the audio-visual and broadcasting industries, and rooted in general social structures.

This executive summary aims to give a picture of the situation in the television industry against the background of employment and professional access to the audio-visual media industry in the research countries and in Europe in general. This is contextualised by background information provided by the European Centre of Work and Society (Maastricht, the Netherlands).

In the final part of the publication, organisations, networks and projects are critically highlighted and recommendations made.

The research report More Colour in the Media is available for Euro 10,- including postage. If you wish to purchase a copy, please contact STOA, PO Box 1234, 3500 BE Utrecht, The Netherlands / eslube@stoa.nl