The problem goes well beyond legacy media. Through social media and AI, distortion and outright fabrication spreads faster and further than ever. In recent months we have exposed the Sri-Lankan ‘King of Slop’ and the devout Muslim in Pakistan making a fortune from spreading Islamophobia, as well as the white-nationalist AI rapper producing music for a far-right party. It’s expected that Danny Bones will feature at this week’s Unite the Kingdom rally.
It doesn’t have to be this way. We believe the media can change the story and be a force for good. Not just through brave, fact-based reporting but by working with people and communities rather than writing about them. Together we can spark change and break apart the machinery of hate.
And while journalists can do their bit, we think the people best placed to tell the stories that challenge these narratives are those directly affected by them. Dr Allan Njanji, a refugee rights campaigner, wrote powerfully on this subject last October:
“Representation isn’t just about visibility, it’s about power. The way refugees appear on TV or in newspapers shapes how society understands us. Too often, that portrayal is reduced to crisis and tragedy. We are either seen as victims in need of saving or as threats to be contained.
“But I’ve seen the difference it makes when refugees tell their own stories. When people hear our voices, not filtered, not spoken about us, but by us, something shifts. The narrative becomes more human, more real, more complex. It stops being about pity and starts being about shared humanity. Authentic representation can turn sympathy into solidarity. That shift in understanding can influence everything from public attitudes to political will.”
As Njanji says, refugees (and migrants in general) are often the subjects of stories but rarely the storytellers. We want that to change.
Later this year the Bureau will launch a long-term, community-engaged project uncovering how hate towards migrants and refugees is spread, who profits from it and the impact it has on people and society.
We don’t have all the answers and can’t do this alone. We don’t want to inadvertently add to the problem. That’s why we want to work with people and organisations already working on the ground, to hear how they think the media can help; to co-create a project that can have real impact.
Do you have a story or investigation you want us to publish?
Would you like to share or write about your own experiences?
Are you concerned about these issues and want to help shape this project?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, or you just want to hear more, please get in touch at garethdavies@tbij.com.