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

However a large proportion of the refugee and migrant worker organisations have received media/communications training (second highest of the groups). This may mean that the training was notuseful; or that they don’t have the capacity to carry out the tasks recommended to them; or that itwas useful but they had no reason or desire to engage with the media; or the training was poor orinadequate. It might also refl ect the attention being paid to this sort of training amongst new migrantorganisations. Interviews with statutory organisations and NGOs indicate a high degree of awarenessand interest in media impact on community cohesion in this area. Conversely (and consistent with thefi ndings in 3.4) feedback from focus groups suggests individual migrant workers are unlikely to read orrelate to the local media.As stated, refugees, migrants and BME organisations are least likely to know how to contactthe media. Faith groups are not far behind. This is a basic skill and a starting point for a media/communications strategy, and something that should be a priority in any training programme.Fig 3.Information gained from interviews with some support organisations reported that BME organisationslack confi dence in dealing with the media. One respondent suggested that BME communities feelsegregated from and consequently have low expectations of the mainstream media. It was proposedby the same person that this resistance might be overcome by appropriate training.Refugee groups demonstrated enthusiasm for engaging with the media and optimism about thepotential benefi ts that might ensue. They suggested it could help strengthen their voice in thecommunity, reduce misunderstandings, challenge stereotypes, help integrate new people and improvecommunity relations. They also saw its potential to increase membership, promote projects andaccess funding.In the faith sector the research revealed differences and some tensions between approaches andattitudes at national and local level. The Christian denominations (Church of England, RomanCatholics and Methodists) tend to have sophisticated media relations machines and attendant trainingprogrammes at the national level. This does not always fi lter down to very local groups howeverwho reported feeling ill-equipped to engage with the media and unconvinced that they would haveanything to gain from such contact. They were also concerned about the issue of legitimacy and whowas qualifi ed to speak for their faith.20 Uncovered: assessing media and communications needs and capacity of marginalised communities