Attitudes of local press to minorities is explored

The findings of a study into how the print media in Donegal has portrayed issues relating to ethnic minorities will be revealed…

The findings of a study into how the print media in Donegal has portrayed issues relating to ethnic minorities will be revealed today.

The Alliance to End Racism in Donegal will officially launch an Analysis of the Portrayal of Ethnic Minorities in the Donegal Print Media.

As part of the study, four local weekly newspapers circulating in the county were analysed for the way they covered stories concerning ethnic minorities, including Travellers.

The results will be announced at a workshop with local journalists in Letterkenny to highlight racism in the county.

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The report's author, Ms Francine Blanche-Breen, points out that while articles about non-indigenous ethnic minorities are generally positive, and of a human interest nature, Travellers tended to be subjected to the least favourable comment.

Of the 177 articles analysed by the report, 112 related to Travellers.

She concludes that journalists have an awesome responsibility as they "have the ability to sway public opinion and shape attitudes through what they write, how they write it, and what they choose to omit".

Ms Blanche-Breen, analysed articles in the Donegal Democrat, the Derry People and Donegal News, the Derry Journal, and the Tir Conaill Tribune.

Meanwhile, the Sligo Leader Partnership has designated March as Equality Month, with a number of events geared towards involving members of ethnic and minority groups.

On Monday, there was an intercultural celebration in Gurteen, Co Sligo, where people from Russia and Belarus joined in with traditional Irish dancers.

With plenty of traditional costumes, it was a very colourful event, while on the culinary front, there were dishes from all over the world.

"We hope to make it an annual event," said Mr Michael Waugh, the equality officer with the Sligo Leader Partnership.

"Some people thought that we had paid the air fares to bring in people from abroad, and we had to tell them that they were people living here - they are our neighbours," he added.

Last night a public meeting on the theme "Sligo united against racism" was scheduled to be held in the Model Arts and Niland Gallery in Sligo.