Indicator history

Representation of persons of immigrant background in the media is poor. On December 6th, 2010, the Austrian Public Broadcasting Company released a study which revealed that migrants wish a better substantial and quantitative representation in the television programmes. The reporting is perceived to be passing on stereotypes and the representation of migrants is unbalanced.

Also the ECRI Report on Austria expressed its concern in regard to news coverage by the media. It stated that the press was contributing to the "ethnicisation" of crimes and senationalist reporting on immigration and asylum issues and was preoccupied by the irresponsible editorial policy carried out by some newspapers, which is contributing to the spread of racist and xenophobic stereotypes.

Incidents and practices of hate speech in the media are also reported by NGOs. The ant-racism organisation ZARA lists several racist and xenophobic incidents in the fields of media and politics. According to the report xenophobic stereotypes and racist stereotypes are prevalent in politcal campaigns, posters, speeches and in the representation of migrants in the media.

Sources: http://dastandard.at/1291454235142/Public-Value-Studie-Migranten-wuenschen-sich-staerkere-Praesenz-im-ORF; http://hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ENGLISH/Cycle_04/04_CbC_eng/AUT-CbC-IV-2010-002-ENG.pdf; http://hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ENGLISH/Cycle_04/04_CbC_eng/AUT-CbC-IV-2010-002-ENG.pdf