Associate professor of media and communications at the University of Canterbury, Donald Matheson said there is longstanding research that shows refugees and migrants are often bundled together, without differentiating their very different experiences. Migrants are too often treated as a mass as well.
“When there’s a violent incident there’s a big risk that someone different from the dominant culture will find their actions “explained” by their ethnicity or skin colour,” Matheson said.
He agreed that there is a serious problem of prejudice among politicians and commentators. An example being AM Show host Duncan Garner, who “slammed” New Zealand director, Taika Waititi two years ago for saying New Zealand was “racist."
“The politicians, in particular, legitimise racism and news journalists need to think about how to report them very carefully as a result," Matheson said.
Although this happens a lot less than it used to in New Zealand journalism, there are still instances of racism and ignorance, he said.
“I think there is more sensitivity than there has ever been, particularly when considering reporting on people who are first-generation migrants from Muslim countries,” Matheson said.
The three friends shared some advice they had for journalists.
Hajira suggested giving a platform to speak for voices that aren't typically heard, especially when it comes to the matters of refugees and/or immigrants.
“Their stories are powerful and need to be voiced accordingly,” Hajira said.
Huda decided to share a quote from Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED TALK in 2009.
“The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.”
Huda has a simple message to the news media.
“With that said, my message to present/future journalists is don’t create or run with one story as that does more harm than good but, rather look for other stories.”
Hafsa said that news media needs to stops portraying refugees as being burdens to the country in which they want to seek asylum.
The lives of the three friends are deeply intertwined and one thing remains clear: These three friends will continue to face this world together.