Conference turns spotlight on media's role in integration

It was an unhappy coincidence. As I read about the death of Oriana Fallaci, I received an e-mail telling me about an EBU-supported conference on the role of the media in promoting a dialogue between cultures.

You may remember that in the wake of the September 11 attacks on America, the Italian journalist published several articles and books warning against the dangers of allowing Muslims to follow their cultural practices in Christian Europe.

Of course, it is easy to dismiss Fallaci as a bigot, but her last books were bestsellers. Some commentators believe that book sales may have been fed by a perception, among a sizeable number of Europeans, that multiculturalism has failed.

Over the past year, several events have highlighted the cultural chasm between Muslims and Western communities in Europe. Fears about terrorism have stoked tensions and rogue broadcasters, like Poland's Radio Maryja, have fanned the flames.

The publication, in a Danish newspaper, of cartoons satirizing the prophet Muhammad saw Muslims venting their fury on the streets of Denmark and around the world. In France, Muslim youths, disaffected by the prospect of a life on the dole, set fire to cars and clashed with police.

Europe's public service broadcasters have a mission to build bridges between communities. One way of doing this is by making programmes that increase understanding and foster mutual tolerance.

European PSBs can provide many examples of successful formats, ranging from RAI's now defunct news magazine, "Non Solo Nero", to radio stations in Sweden that target different ethnic groups. One of the goals of the EBU conference is to encourage broadcasters to exchange ideas about formats and content.

Alongside this, participants will discuss best practices in human resource management, including recruitment and training. Most PSB's accept that to be relevant, their workforces should reflect the cultural diversity of the countries and cities in which they operate.

The conference hopes to draw the attention of European media to the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of immigration. It will stress the media's role in the process of integration.

There is an outstanding line-up of speakers, including German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, Italian journalist and MEP Lilli Gruber, controversial Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan and the Director General of WDR and EBU president, Fritz Pleitgen.

They will discuss the relationship between Europe and Islam in the context of Turkey's bid to join the union, as well as the wider impact on immigration of the EU enlargement process.

WDR will present a study analyzing the effect of Turkish and German TV programmes on the attitudes of young Turks towards German society.

"Migration and Integration - Europe's big challenge, which role do the media play?" is being organised by WDR, ZDF and France Télévisions. It takes place in the German city of Essen, on 23rd and 24th November.