Stockholm International ForumForum On The HolocaustCombating IntoleranceTruth, Justice and ReconciliationPreventing Genocide
You are here: 2001 / Workshops, Panels and Seminars / The role and influence of media / Seminar 4 A on the Role and influence of media / Presentation by Dr. Haideh Daragahi
Participants

Countries and organizations

Conference documentation

Conference programme

Regeringskansliet
Report from Seminar 4 A on the Role and influence of media
Presentation by Dr. Haideh Daragahi
Presentation by Ms. Slavenka Drakulic
Presentation by Mr. Jamal Mahjoub
Presentation by Dr. Anneliese Rohrer
Presentation by Professor Ruth Wodak

Presentation by Dr. Haideh Daragahi
Daragahi, Haideh

Presentation by Dr. Haideh Daragahi

I am categorically opposed to any restrictions put on the presentation of information in the guise of protecting minorities from the risk of collective slander.

I ground my opposition not only on the right of the public to know. I consider a patronising, protective view of a "minority" as a subtle and sinister form of racism, which is more difficult to contend with than the more open racism. It serves to maintain and perpetuate often false "minority"/"majority" divisions without any perspective for improvement or change.

No amount of compromising, relativising, or minimising the truth component of reportage on an "honour" killing would make the unpleasant reality of the act (and its possibility to recur) vanish. The unacceptability of this reality is exploited and sensationalised by racist and antiimmigrant organisations, through appealing to superior values of the "majority" culture.

Responsible journalism deepens our understanding of the reality, rather than subverting it. It explores the historical and cultural background within the "minority" frame of reference, makes it graspable by referring to similar tendencies in the "majority" culture in the recallable past, and mobilises public opinion , irrespective of race or background, against it.

The most effective shield against collective slander is to question the very concept of collectivity when it is false. An ethnic minority, or a number of ethnic minorities called immigrants, is everything but a homogeneous entity. The Swedish mass media (as opposed to its British or American counterpart in this one respect) contributes to segregation by cosulting immigrants solely on immigrant issues, as if they were incapable as citizens to form any opinions on matters of general social interest. The other danger of ethnicity-dominated repertage is the bloc treatment of a minority as a unified whole, ignoring important tensions and differences of class, sec, cultural counter currents, and individual systems of value and conviction. To the extent that attention is drawn to progressive voices of dissent against negative cultural traits, i.e. to the extent that a minority is shown not to be a minority. Is collective slander rendered meaningless.



>> Back to top


Introduction

Opening Session

Plenary Sessions: Messages and Presentations

Workshops, Panels and Seminars

Closing Plenary Session and Declaration

Other Activities

For information about this production and the Stockholm International Forum Conference Series please go to www.humanrights.gov.se or contact Information Rosenbad, SE-103 33 Stockholm, Sweden