Covering migration: insights from the perspective of public interest journalism

Migration, especially illegal migration, in Europe and all around the world causes a variety of public reactions. From politicians to law enforcement, human rights activists and migrants themselves: everyone has something to say. The public look to journalists for information and the quality news media has a responsibility to provide an impartial, accurate and truthful accounts of what is happening.

It’s a topic which is not always easy to report on. Some facts are contested and access to information can be restricted. The topic is charged with fear about public safety, too.

The BBC’s population correspondent Stephanie Hegarty has been reporting on migration for many years now and is ready to share case studies about best practices of reporting on migration, illegal migration and refugees.

She will bring analysis of case studies of good journalism in the field which she hopes will help Lithuanian colleagues to cover the experience of migrants at the Lithuanian-Belarussian border.

Short bio: Stephanie Hegarty is the Population correspondent at BBCNews. She looks at demographic shifts and how they change the way we live. She was previously the BBC’s reporter in Nigeria.

This event is one of the series of “Breakfast of Journalists” events that is organized jointly by Lithuanian Journalism Centre, Transparency International Lithuania and the British Council in Lithuania.

Register for the event here: https://forms.gle/u7Zd1hGmKrzZ6tgz9