Who Gets to Speak? A New European Campaign Challenges Media Narratives on Migration and Diversity

For years, discussions about migrants, refugees and racialized communities in Europe have often followed a familiar pattern. They appear in headlines during crises, political disputes or security debates, yet rarely as experts, professionals or protagonists of their own stories.

A new European campaign launching this month wants to challenge that pattern.

A working session by the MILD Consortium during a partner meeting in Madrid in February 2026

Beginning on 15 June and running until 27 October, POV: More Correct Information, Less Discrimination will bring together media organizations and civil society groups from Italy, Malta, Greece and Spain in an effort to promote more accurate and inclusive narratives online.

The campaign forms part of the European project MILD (More Correct Information, Less Discrimination) and comes at a time when concerns about misinformation, online hate speech and polarized public debates continue to shape discussions around migration and diversity across Europe.

According to research conducted by the project partners, migrants, refugees and racialized communities remain significantly underrepresented in mainstream media, particularly as sources of expertise. When they do appear in news coverage, they are frequently associated with stories about border control, irregular migration or social problems.

The research also identified persistent stereotypes and misinformation that contribute to distorted public perceptions.

Rather than focusing on what is wrong with journalism, the campaign seeks to highlight what better representation can look like.

Over the next four months, audiences will encounter videos, infographics, public events and social media content exploring five themes: visibility and representation, negative narratives, stereotypes and dehumanisation, misinformation and positive media practices, and the creation of new narratives.

The materials will be published across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, LinkedIn and YouTube and will be available in English, Italian, Greek and Spanish.

The campaign's central message is simple: people from racialized backgrounds should not only be the subjects of stories but also the voices shaping them.

This approach reflects a growing recognition among journalists and media researchers that representation is not merely about visibility. It is also about authority. Who is quoted? Who is considered an expert? Who is invited to explain social issues and influence public debate?

By showcasing professionals, community leaders, journalists and other contributors from diverse backgrounds, POV aims to broaden the range of voices present in public conversations and challenge assumptions that continue to influence media coverage.

The campaign is coordinated within the MILD project, an initiative led by Lunaria in partnership with the African Media Association Malta (AMAM), Antigone, Carta di Roma and Maldita.es. Beyond the campaign itself, the project has produced research and training resources designed to help journalists, journalism students and civil society organizations recognize and counter misinformation, discriminatory narratives and hate speech.

At a time when public trust in information is increasingly contested, the campaign's organisers argue that more accurate reporting is not simply a matter of professional ethics. It is also a prerequisite for more informed and inclusive democratic societies.

The conversation begins on 15 June.