Peer-Reviewed Article: Media Offerings with a Migrant Perspective - Goals and Challenges for a Pluralistic and Diverse Journalism

Abstract

The reality of a plural society is inadequately reflected in journalistic public spheres and editorial offices: Ethnic diversity in German reporting is often presented in a culturalising hegemonic way. As a result, migrant perspectives are not sufficiently represented in terms of content or personnel at important points of public discourse, which means that journalism loses its functional integration potential in a migration society. This article presents the results of a qualitative research project based on the concept of media integration by Geißler and Pöttker, and questions the status of diversity as a factor of integration within the structures and at the boundaries of institutionalised journalism. In the summer of 2021, diversity-sensitive linear and social web media – both affiliated and unaffiliated with journalistic organisations – were identified and afterwards guided interviews were conducted with editorial managers (three of them with a focus on ethnic diversity). Additionally, a supplementary focus group was held in summer 2022 with eight participants who also work in media with a migrant perspective. Both approaches provide insights into the goals and challenges of the editorial offices, community management, role self-perceptions and answers to the question of how committed or activist-motivated journalism can or must be if it wants to remain sustainable in a pluralistic migration society. The analysis shows that the interviewed media creators pursue the goal of presenting the plural realities of life transparently and authentically in order to reduce prejudices and promote mutual understanding. At the same time, a variety of challenges are perceived, such as a lack of funding or dealing with discriminatory comments. The focus on the controversial topic of migration thus also challenges the self-image of diversity-sensitive journalism.