Covering Refugee Stories
Did you know that the number of people fleeing wars, persecution and conflicts around the world exceeded 100 million by the end of 2022? Of those people forcibly displaced, 32.5 million are refugees.
More than 70 percent of refugees come from just five countries: Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine, Afghanistan and South Sudan.
What do we mean by the word refugee, and what does compassion in journalism look like? Where do we look for refugee stories? How many of the stories that we produce as journalists convey the true suffering of this group? How many reflect the reality of their hardships? Are there professional guidelines when dealing with refugee issues?
My name is Natasha Ghoneim and I am a senior correspondent with Al Jazeera English. During my career, I have covered refugee stories in countries including Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, South Sudan, Turkey, Bangladesh, Mexico and the United States.
Join me on this Al Jazeera eLearning course for journalists on covering refugee stories.
Cognitive skills
The trainee will learn:
- The legal definitions of different categories of migrant
- Which international treaties and conventions it is important to be familiar with
- The types of refugee stories that can be covered
- The use of appropriate language when covering refugee stories
- How media coverage of refugees affects public opinion
Practical skills
The trainee will learn:
- How to identify good refugee stories
- How to deliver good refugee stories
- How to photograph refugees
- How to stay safe when covering refugees
- How to conduct interviews with refugees
- How to conduct interviews with officials
- How to research stories
Behavioural skills
The trainee will learn:
- Understanding the ethics of covering refugees as a journalist
- Respecting the privacy and safety of interview subjects
- How to modify language in refugee stories
- How to present refugee stories in a more positive way
- How to approach refugees
- Full lifetime access.
- Paid Certificate.
- Knowledge of the English language.
- A Computer or Mobile with Internet Connection.
