Reporting (on) Migration

(3 Credits)

How do journalists report on migration, and how does that reporting influence public debate and policy? How does reporting on displaced populations shape the migrant experience itself, and what ethical responsibilities do journalists have when reporting on vulnerable communities? This course examines two comparative case studies as they play out in Greece and beyond, focusing on the Syrian refugee situation of 2015 and the displacement of Ukrainians following Russia's 2022 invasion. Students will work with Refocus Media Labs, an organization that trains refugee journalists, to examine firsthand the practical and ethical challenges of migration reporting. We will also engage with academic literature alongside long-form journalism and learn to critically analyze news coverage and evaluate how race, geopolitics, language, and visual storytelling shape public perception and political response. Coursework includes daily reading quizzes, regular reporting and editing exercises, and a final reported feature on migration grounded in field research and interviews.