Bonding and bridging Bonding and bridging Social media as a platform for discussions and news in a multicultural society

MotivationMotivationHypothesis:

◦Dialogue between migrants groups and journalists can improve the quality of intercultural journalism.

◦Social media offer the possibility for dialogue

InitiativeInitiativeInitiative by Mira Media, as a

result of discussions in earlier meetings

Developed in cooperation with –and payed by) the Dutch Press fund

Main question Main question What can be the role (or task) of

ethinc portalsite, webfora and social media in connecting ethnic groups and (mainstream) journalists?

MethodMethodDesktopresearchMonitoring of the use of social

media (during 4 months)Survey with stakeholders

◦NGO’s, editors portalsites, journalists, Interviews with social media experts

Interviews with (social)medioa experts

Which media were Which media were inmvolved inmvolved Important: the possibilty to

interact◦Discussion forums◦Portals that encourage reactions and

interaction ◦Twitter◦Facebook◦(Hyves)

Desktop researchDesktop research

Use of social mediaUse of social media

Discussion forumsDiscussion forumsPopular with young people;Mainly MoroccanMostly girls

◦ It’s rather safe (anonymous/fake names)◦ It’s about identity◦Lots of religious discussions

Not so much about news, onl;y when it’s news in the neighbourhoof, or directly influencing people

One exception: Waterkant: middle age, elderly Surinamese

News consumptionNews consumptionEthnic groups make more use of

news sources than originally Dutch, but often in a different way ◦News nearby (local/regional; instead

of national)◦News from countries of origin ◦Use of satelite, internet and apps

(insteaqd of print)

Preferred media Preferred media ◦Satelite television and and papers in

Turkish/from Turkey (Turks)◦Dutch media and Al Jazeera

(Marokkanen)◦Online broadcasts from Suriname or

the Antilles (Surinamers/Antillianen)◦Ethnic media in the Netherlands

(Radio Mart, Salto) Surinamers en Antillianen

Muslim youngsters make Muslim youngsters make more than average use of more than average use of media media

Content Content Few differences between mainstream media Few differences between mainstream media and discussion forums and discussion forums Mainstream media take the lead,

discussion forums and ethnic media follow

But large differences in viewponts and visions.

MonitorinMonitoringg

MonitoringMonitoringQuickscan on initiatial situation

on Morocccan, Turkish, Polish, Afghan and Surinamese social media and discussion forums

Monitoring during 4 months◦which items got most reactions◦How many reactions each item got◦How many views each item had ◦What was the source of the item.

REACTIONSREACTIONS(MAROKKO.NL)(MAROKKO.NL)

•Religion, identity, discrimination, entertainment •Mostly foreign sources •Lots of reactions

REACTIONS ON REACTIONS ON HABABAM (TURKISH) HABABAM (TURKISH)

•Orientated on Turkey•Mostly in Turkish•Sources from Turkey

REACTIONS REACTIONS WATERKANT WATERKANT (SURINAMESE)(SURINAMESE)

•Very different topics•Short essays insteda of reactions•Mostly middle age or elderly respondents

REACTIONSREACTIONSAFGHAN AFGHAN

Sensational or funny

REACTIONS REACTIONS WERELDJOURNALISTENWERELDJOURNALISTEN

•Political and ethnic controverse•Serious tone of voice•Moderation seldom necessary•Few reactions, retweets increasing

Survey and Survey and interviewsinterviews

Editors of websites, NGO’s, Editors of websites, NGO’s, journalistsjournalists

◦Use of social media by ethnic groups increases, especialy twitter and facebook

◦‘Lurking’: reading, not posting, not making use of social media in a strategical way.

◦Republiek Allochtonië, Maroc.nl, Marokko.nl, Wereldjournalisten

◦Journalists: Lack of knowledge on or lack of confidence on ethnic (social) media

ConclusionsConclusionsDiscussions tend to change from portals to

social media This make discussions more superficialSocial media used by ethnic groups show

the differences in viewpoints/perspectives and visions.

Social media used by ethnic groups not often provide ‘new’ news

The opportunities of social media aren’t fully utilized by migrant organizations, mostly because they haven’t a strategy using them

The opportunities of social media aren’t fully utilized by journalists, because they don’t know them, or don’t trust them