"Journalists have an obligation to report on the issues of migration, refugees and human trafficking in an accurate, fair, balanced, humane and ethical way. These are complex stories. Research and news reports indicate the issue of migration affects countries across the globe on the political, economic, demographic, security, social, cultural, and other fronts. So, it is important for media to become as knowledgeable as possible on the subject and to create awareness in their respective communities by reporting on it in the best way possible. But before delving into the details, journalists must do their homework and then allocate the necessary amount of time, effort, perseverance and resources. Since not all journalists can dedicate their complete attention to this story, they must at least acquire basic, important information and skills that will help them prepare for the assignment. To start, journalists should understand the reasons behind irregular migration that lead people to journey to another place and what routes they take to reach their destinations which will ensure accurate coverage of people on the move. This handbook seeks to provide guidance for journalists so they can: better understand the complexities of migration; explain how migration can be covered through people- and rights-based storytelling; have a solid understanding of where and how to find migration-related story ideas and sources; better understand the importance of media’s role in covering migration; understand the laws and procedures surrounding the different forms of migration; apply ethical considerations during reporting; adopt a gender-sensitive and gender-inclusive approach to reporting.
The target group for this handbook is journalists and media professionals working for public or private media, in print or online in West and Central Africa and other parts of the world. Although it is adapted for journalists, this guide may also be an invaluable resource for other audiences discovering migration issues, such as communication and journalism students, associations or humanitarian organizations, civil society players, senior public officials and teachers and students.Additional resources were created to go alongside this handbook, including an online game called “A Migrant’s Journey”. This choice-based game is based on the real-life experiences of migrants. It highlights some of the many difficult decisions people face in irregular migration." (Introduction, pages 1-2)