Reporting at the Southern Borders: Journalism and Public Debates on Immigration in the U.S. and the E.U. (Routledge Studies in Global Information, Politics and Society)

Undocumented immigration across the Mediterranean and the US-Mexican border is one of the most contested transatlantic public and political issues, raising fundamental questions about national identity, security and multiculturalism—all in the glare of news media themselves undergoing dramatic transformations. This interdisciplinary, international volume fills a major gap in political science and communication literature on the role of news media in public debates over immigration by providing unique insider’s perspectives on journalistic practices and bringing them into dialogue with scholars and immigrant rights practitioners. After providing original comparative research by established and emerging international affairs and media scholars as well as grounded reflections by UN and IOM practitioners, the book presents candid, in-depth assessments by nine leading European and North American journalists covering immigration from the frontlines, ranging from the __Guardian__’s Southern Europe editor to the immigration reporter for the __Arizona Republic__. Their comparative reflections on the professional, institutional and technological constraints shaping news stories offer unprecedented insight into the challenges and opportunities for 21st century journalism to affect public discourse and policymaking about issues critical to the future of the transatlantic space, making the book relevant across a wide range of scholarship on the media’s impact on public affairs. Undocumented Immigration Across The Mediterranean And The Us-mexican Border Is One Of The Most Contested Transatlantic Public And Political Issues, Raising Fundamental Questions About National Identity, Security And Multiculturalism--all In The Glare Of News Media Themselves Undergoing Dramatic Transformations. This Interdisciplinary, International Volume Fills A Major Gap In Political Science And Communication Literature On The Role Of News Media In Public Debates Over Immigration By Providing Unique Insider's Perspectives On Journalistic Practices And Bringing Them Into Dialogue With Scholars And Immigrant Rights Practitioners. After Providing Original Comparative Research By Established And Emerging International Affairs And Media Scholars As Well As Grounded Reflections By Un And Iom Practitioners, The Book Presents Candid, In-depth Assessments By Nine Leading European And North American Journalists Covering Immigration From The Frontlines, Ranging From The Guardian's Southern Europe Editor To The Immigration Reporter For The Arizona Republic. Their Comparative Reflections On The Professional, Institutional And Technological Constraints Shaping News Stories Offer Unprecedented Insight Into The Challenges And Opportunities For 21st Century Journalism To Affect Public Discourse And Policymaking About Issues Critical To The Future Of The Transatlantic Space, Making The Book Relevant Across A Wide Range Of Scholarship On The Media's Impact On Public Affairs-- Introduction / Vicki L. Birchfield And Giovanna Dell'orto -- National Identity And The Challenge Of Immigration / Jack Citrin, University Of California, Berkeley -- Policies And Politics Of Immigration In The United States And The European Union / Martin A. Schain, New York University -- Responsible Reporting And Perceptions Of Migrants In An Era Of Unprecedented Mobility / Anne Grobet, United Nations Alliance Of Civilizations -- Communicating Effectively About Migration / Jean-philippe Chauzy And Gervais Appave, International Organization For Migration -- Why Narrative Is Not Enough : Immigration And The Genres Of Journalism / Rodney Benson, New York University -- Just Off The Wire : Ap's And Afp's Coverage Of Immigration In France And The United States / Rodrigo Zamith, University Of Minnesota -- Liking Stories : Readers' Comments On Online Immigration Articles For The New York Times And The Guardian / Anna Popkova, University Of Minnesota --^ A (more) Humanitarian Take : Al-jazeera English And Arabic Coverage Of Immigration In The West / Stephen Bennett And Rodrigo Zamith, University Of Minnesota -- Journalistic Strategies To Write About Immigration Under Nicolas Sarkozy's Presidency / Elise Vincent, Le Monde -- Shooting Immigration For The World : International Photojournalism At Italy's Borders / Domenico Stinellis, The Associated Press, Rome -- Now You See Them, Now You Don't : Italy's Visible And Invisible Immigrants / John Hooper, The Guardian And The Observer -- This Is Not A Country For Immigrants : Journalists And Political Discourse In Italy / Riccardo Staglianò, La Repubblica -- The Border Beat In Battleground Arizona / Daniel González, Arizona Republic -- Violence, Drugs And Migration In The Border Of Ciudad Juarez-el Paso : The Challenges Facing Journalists / Lourdes Cárdenas, El Paso Times --^ Investigative Reporting At Risk : The Heroes And Horrors Behind Attacks On Journalists In Mexico / Lise Olsen, The Houston Chronicle -- Beyond The Far West : Translating The American Border For Italians / Guido Olimpio, Corriere Della Sera -- Immigration : A Minefield For Journalists / Laure Mandeville, Le Figaro -- Conclusion : Understanding Border Journalism And Its Sociopolitical Impact / Giovanna Dell'orto And Vicki L. Birchfield Edited By Giovanna Dell'orto And Vicki L. Birchfield. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Tables and Figures 12 Acknowledgments 14 Series Foreword 16 Contributors 18 Introduction 24 PART I EU and US Policies and Politics of Immigration Today 38 1 National Identity and the Challenge of Immigration 40 2 Policies and Politics of Immigration in the United States and the European Union 55 3 Responsible Reporting and Perceptions of Migrants in an Era of Unprecedented Mobility 70 4 Communicating Effectively about Migration 85 PART II Comparing Immigration News Frames in the United States and Europe 94 5 Why Narrative Is Not Enough: Immigration and the Genres of Journalism 96 6 Just Off the Wire: AP’s and AFP’s Coverage of Immigration in France and the United States 111 7 Liking Stories: Readers’ Comments on Online Immigration Articles for the New York Times and The Guardian 128 8 A (More) Humanitarian Take: Al Jazeera English and Arabic Coverage of Immigration in the West 153 PART III Lampedusa and Schengen: Covering Immigration in Today’s Europe 166 9 Journalistic Strategies to Write about Immigration under Nicolas Sarkozy’s Presidency 168 10 Shooting Immigration for the World: International Photojournalism at Italy’s Borders 182 11 Now You See Them, Now You Don’t: Italy’s Visible and Invisible Immigrants 206 12 This Is Not a Country for Immigrants: Journalists and Political Discourse in Italy 214 PART IV Fences and the Far West: Covering Immigration in the United States 226 13 The Border Beat in Battleground Arizona 228 14 Violence, Drugs, and Migration in the Border of Ciudad Juárez-El Paso: The Challenges Facing Journalists 244 15 Investigative Reporting at Risk: The Heroes and the Horrors behind Attacks on Journalists in Mexico 256 16 Beyond the Far West: Translating the American Border for Italians 276 17 Immigration: A Minefield for Journalists 289 Conclusion: Understanding Border Journalism and Its Sociopolitical Impact 298 Index 306 Undocumented immigration across the Mediterranean and the US-Mexican border is one of the most contested transatlantic public and political issues, raising fundamental questions about national identity, security and multiculturalism—all in the glare of news media themselves undergoing dramatic transformations. This interdisciplinary, international volume fills a major gap in political science and communication literature on the role of news media in public debates over immigration by providing unique insider’s perspectives on journalistic practices and bringing them into dialogue with scholars and immigrant rights practitioners. After providing original comparative research by established and emerging international affairs and media scholars as well as grounded reflections by UN and IOM practitioners, the book presents candid, in-depth assessments by nine leading European and North American journalists covering immigration from the frontlines, ranging from the Guardian ’s Southern Europe editor to the immigration reporter for the Arizona Republic . Their comparative reflections on the professional, institutional and technological constraints shaping news stories offer unprecedented insight into the challenges and opportunities for 21 st century journalism to affect public discourse and policymaking about issues critical to the future of the transatlantic space, making the book relevant across a wide range of scholarship on the media’s impact on public affairs.