Reporting on Migration in South Africa: A Journalist’s Guide

Sonke Gender Justice and Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town have co-authored a new media guide: Reporting on Migration in South Africa: A Guide for Journalists and Editors. This guide was contributed to by African Centre for Migration and Society, Consortium for Refugees and Migrants South Africa, and Lawyers for Human Rights.

The media has an important role to play in changing perceptions and reshaping the conversations around migration. Sensationalist or over-simplified stories on migration or xenophobia can perpetuate or even encourage violence. It is therefore important to write about cross-border migration in a way that is responsible and educational. This guide was written with the understanding that journalists and editors work under immense pressure. It provides helpful guidelines when reporting on migration and pointers on how to avoid common pitfalls.