EESC found «evidence of ethnic filters» and unaccidental misinformation all around refugees
by Emanuele Bonini
Information manipulation and racism together make Italy. This is the equation used to describe the country by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in the mission report on Italy published today. Written with the purpose of focus on the migration issue management, the report showed a country with a lot huge problem, where the approach in communication is just on of the many underlined by the EU organism. EESC come to the conclusion that in Italy «the public debate on migration is often manipulated for political purposes before the elections and the media tend to present an alarmist viewpoint, presenting migrants as invaders, stealing work, committing crimes, etc». In making this, «individual cases are portrayed as general rule». So, rather than a migration issue in Italy appears to be an Italian problem with information and media use and control. This should sound as an alarm bell, given that generally - and often practically, too - speaking of manipulation of the debate can mean having problems with democracy. In the best scenario, Italy only has problems with accountability of journalists, but it doesn't seem to be the case. As pointed out in its report, the European Economic and Social Committee there are those who believe there is «the need to de-politicise the question of immigration», while at operational level was it has been confirmed that «discrimination on the basis of country of origin is happening at the Hotspots». So in one hand there is a problem of an instrumental debate over migration, while on the other hand there is racism. EESC had no doubt: in Italy «there is some evidence of ethnic filters». And what does ethnic filter mean? Don't ask Italian media...
Information manipulation and racism together make Italy. This is the equation used to describe the country by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in the mission report on Italy published today. Written with the purpose of focus on the migration issue management, the report showed a country with a lot huge problem, where the approach in communication is just on of the many underlined by the EU organism. EESC come to the conclusion that in Italy «the public debate on migration is often manipulated for political purposes before the elections and the media tend to present an alarmist viewpoint, presenting migrants as invaders, stealing work, committing crimes, etc». In making this, «individual cases are portrayed as general rule». So, rather than a migration issue in Italy appears to be an Italian problem with information and media use and control. This should sound as an alarm bell, given that generally - and often practically, too - speaking of manipulation of the debate can mean having problems with democracy. In the best scenario, Italy only has problems with accountability of journalists, but it doesn't seem to be the case. As pointed out in its report, the European Economic and Social Committee there are those who believe there is «the need to de-politicise the question of immigration», while at operational level was it has been confirmed that «discrimination on the basis of country of origin is happening at the Hotspots». So in one hand there is a problem of an instrumental debate over migration, while on the other hand there is racism. EESC had no doubt: in Italy «there is some evidence of ethnic filters». And what does ethnic filter mean? Don't ask Italian media...
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