Sharing the Responsibility Media reporting on HT Sharing the Responsibility

Exercise How do you find sentences ruled by the court/proposed by the prosecution in the given case? Is the girl in the given case a victim of human trafficking or not in your opinion? Do you think an average reader’s opinion would differ to yours?

Topics to cover: Role of the media Research on media framing of HT for sexual exploitation Findings of relevance to you * Descrepancy between what AT actors want to say and what is newsworthy Towards responsible reporting on HT

Media Framing of Sex Trafficking in UK, NL & SRB Lost souls

Role of the media Awareness raising and prevention Moral panics vs. informing Mobilizing public support for eradication of trafficking Political will, focus on the right action, problem that CAN be addressed Reinforcing policy change e.g. Modern Slavery Act (2015), harsher migration control; Berman (2003), Farrell & Fahy (2009), Gulati (2010) Monitoring tool e.g. criminal justice, AT mechanism, protection of victims’ rights Deconstructing stereotypes and representing trafficking genuinely Victim vs. survivor, foreign problem, whore, etc. Shaping the environment in which trafficked people recover Support vs. discrimination

Research on media framing of THB Quantitative & qualitative analysis of media reports on trafficking for sexual exploitation 2011-2015 Fieldwork in Serbia, The Netherlands, United Kingdom Interviews with media experts (journalists, editors, film makers) Interviews with anti-trafficking professionals (NGO, police, state and independent trafficking agencies, academia, prosecution, sex workers organisation, trafficking survivor, lawyer) 3 layers of the framing process

Findings Dominant frame - criminal justice - accent on prosecution, harsher policies and policing - human rights angle lost - superficial - inert - sensationalistic - biased * racial and ethnic biases, e.g. framing of CSE * preferred victim type

Representation of Victims Whore-victim dichotomy - reinforcing gender stereotypes - victim blaming - inadequate identification and assistance to victims

Articles based on interviews with victims “We used to write more on human trafficking because victims were less protected and we could get to speak to them more easily”. Interview, journalist, February 2016 Accent on violence if victims are interviewed - fixed in the ‘victim’ role

Unrealistic expectations “I don’t know if those journalists visited the newsdesk of the CNN’s Freedom Project (…). However, I would like to know why did not any of those journalist who went on a study visit to America established a newsdesk here that would report on human trafficking. I would like for something like that to happen and I am talking about that to people in the USA embassy.” Interview, AT expert, January 2016

HT Discourse vs. the Language of the Media Media (newsworthy) AT community (important) Sex, titillation Recovery & reintegration Violence Deconstructing stereotypes Novelty Protecting rights Danger (e.g. OC) Addressing root causes of HT Children Policy implementation Drama Adequate terminology Conventionalism Criticizing the state Cases Activities

Towards responsible reporting: AT community Language – use appropriate language and avoid legal terms, long sentences etc. Give media something they can use: What translates into a good story? How and when do I want to communicate something? What media are you targeting? Give alternatives (visuals, case studies, new angles) Keep in mind things that often go wrong and take action to prevent (e.g. titles, terminology). Don’t take part in harmful practices

Towards responsible reporting: Journalists Think about consequences Devote time to your story Explore new angles Be critical, not inert Give in return Share your knowledge

Towards responsible reporting: working together Build trust and devote time to building relationships with journalists/AT experts Communicate your needs and frustrations Use appropriate language (avoid long sentences, legal terminology / avoid sensationalism, inadequate terms – e.g. white slaves) Shift the focus back to human rights