Uncovered: assessing media and communications needs ... - ICAR

1 INTRODUCTION1.1 Media Trust, ICAR and this reportThis report presents the fi ndings of research commissioned by Media Trust to assess the capacityand training needs of voluntary and/or community organisations from black and minority ethnic(BME), refugee, migrant worker, isolated rural and faith sectors in England in the area of media andcommunications.The research was carried out by City University, London and conducted by staff in the InformationCentre about Asylum and Refugees (ICAR), an independent research and information organisationbased in the School of Social Sciences.The report starts with a description of the research methodology and is followed by results from areview of existing literature. Findings from the questionnaire, focus groups and interviews follow, thenthe report ends with conclusions and recommendations then appendices.1.2 Methodology1.2.1 Research questionsThe aim of the research was to canvas the views of sample groups from each of the targetpopulations in different areas of the country, and specifi cally to fi nd out:• what if any training is available to them• what they want to learn• the most effective way of delivering that training to them• their underlying attitudes towards media and communications1.2.2 ApproachThe researchers contacted umbrella and representative organisations from each of the groupsto ascertain fi rstly the extent of training currently available and secondly to identify appropriateorganisations. A list of the organisations consulted can be found in Appendix 1.Representatives from organisations from each sector were invited to join an advisory group which metto discuss some of the issues affecting the attitudes of people in the different populations to mediaand communications, and to draw up a methodology for the research.• A questionnaire was drawn up in consultation with representative organisations from each sectorand the web-link emailed to databases held by those organisations and others.• National and local organisations in each sector assisted in setting up focus groups consistingof representatives from local groups. Four focus groups were held, representing faith groups(Sheffi eld), isolated rural (Herefordshire), refugees (Manchester) and migrants (Cambridge). BMErepresentatives were interviewed individually by phone or in person.• Individuals from national and local organisations in each sector were contacted and interviewed.• Individuals from selected statutory, non statutory, infrastructure, training and other relevantorganisations were contacted and interviewed.• For the purposes of the questionnaire refugees and migrant workers were combined into asingle category. For the more detailed examination in focus groups the researchers held separateconsultations.12 Uncovered: assessing media and communications needs and capacity of marginalised communities