Migration and Media: The Influence of Media on Political and Societal Debates

On January 23rd, 2025 Prof. Petra Bendel addressed the role of the media and its influence on political and societal attitudes towards migration during the 19th SWR Media Forum on Migration with this years motto entitled “We, Here. Debates of a Migration Society.” She called for a more factual and grounded approach to societal debates in order to promote open dialogue.

In her opening speech, Prof. Dr. Bendel pointed out that debates on migration in society have become increasingly toxic. She criticized the repeated reproduction of distorted narratives and stereotypes, such as the image of the “overburdened municipality,” and emphasized that the situation had significantly changed in recent years. A recent survey among municipalities showed that the majority of cities and towns today speak far less of “overload” due to migration than they did a few years ago.

Prof. Dr. Bendel highlighted that many of these narratives contribute to portraying migration as a challenge, rather than addressing the underlying societal issues such as housing shortages, the lack of childcare facilities, and inadequate healthcare. She urged the media to foster a more nuanced and precise reporting to allow for a more objective approach to complex issues.

For more information on the event, please click here (in German).