Media’s approach to immigration changing

Multiculturalism in Canada

The media plays an essential role in the first stages of an immigrant’s adaptation into a new society. Due to language barriers, immigrants tend to reach out for ethnic newspapers, magazines, radio and TV programmes when such media resources are available in the host country.

In the past, immigrants were underrepresented in the media and were pictured as intruders and a source of problems. However, in recent years, there has been a tremendous improvement with the media tending to be less stereotypical in its representations of immigrants.

Canada is considered to be a diverse country that defines itself in various ways during its relatively short life as a modern and welcoming country. Whether it was the 1890’s, the 1930’s or 2008, far-reaching reforms have dramatically altered the institution and policies of this society. However, quality information about these policies provided in the public domain is an essential precondition. As debates about biculturalism in Canada are on the rise, the media play a critical role in determining the nature of public opinion, discussions and understanding. The media provide one of the most essential ways to integrate immigrants with Canadian society.

The media, in all its diverse forms – print, television, and online– is a key institution in the creation of images and messages about immigrants and immigration policies in Canada. The media helps confirm who we are as individuals and members of various ethnic communities.

As a foreigner myself, I believe that in the past the media has re-opened and reproduced racism. The media played an essential role in spreading racism, presenting immigrants with bigotry.

Decades ago, immigrants were hungry for respect, equality, and human rights. The media had a great influence in shaping and changing social attitudes. I have noticed while living here for more than 6 years that large segments of Canadians have little or no information on ethnic communities and ethnic affairs.

In the past, many Canadians viewed immigrants as a problem and the media had all the power and the access to all the information to change the mindsets of many Canadians who pictured immigrants as aliens. However, since 2008, the media is now representing culture diversity, and has taken a greater interest in what Canadian immigrants mean for the communities and nations in Canada.

Nowadays the media is trying to change the public point of view and remove the fear some feel towards immigrants by offering a range of images and messages about immigrants. These include a focus on cultural festivals, individual success stories and the cultural practices of ethnic minorities.

September 11th is a prime example of how such an incident can affect immigrants and immigration to Canada. The fear that the September 11th terrorists have slipped into the United States from the north politicized border security. In the months following the attacks, security became not simply something added to conventional policies, but rather a concern that reshaped several national and international Canadian policies especially immigration policy.

Upon the attacks, Canada took a series of measures aimed at protecting the country from potential attack and at maintaining good relations with the United States. The tightening of immigration law was a huge step taken by the government of Canada.

The number of newcomers into Canada is increasing rapidly and the mother tongue of more than half of the immigrants is not English. So, the importance of the foreign language press in Canada has increased. The ethnic media fully participate in building Canadian multiculturalism. Ethnic presses are productive and very effective contributors to the life of every immigrant in Canada.

The mass media is playing a central role in democratic societies, providing an important means of communicating information and a critical understanding of the immigration process. The mass media will continue to perform an essential role in our societies, by presenting picture of the life of all immigrants who come to Canada and try to build their own future and live a life that they have been missing in their own homeland.

Diversity in Canada

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Posted by Ayat Abu Hantash on Sep 27, 2009. Filed under Opinion, This Week's Edition. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.