Marseille Charter on Information and Migrations

Preamble

This charter, drawn up by information professionals and academics specializing in migrations, is a tool for journalists and media professionals.

While reaffirming the editorial freedom of each newsroom, this charter aims to respond to the journalistic challenges posed by migrations, a major political and social topic in our globalized world.

It aims to support journalists and media professionals in their intention to offer high-quality, accurate, comprehensive and ethical coverage of migration issues, by incorporating the recommendations of key ethical texts.

As stated in article 9 of the IFJ Global Charter of Ethics for Journalists: “Journalists shall ensure that the dissemination of information or opinion does not contribute to hatred or prejudice and shall do their utmost to avoid facilitating the spread of discrimination on grounds such as geographical, social or ethnic origin, race, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, disability, political and other opinions.”

This charter is intended for professional journalists and information professionals who make the following commitments:

1. Be conscious that the subject of migrations needs to be addressed in a cross-disciplinary way. The causes of human mobility are complex and multifactorial. The angles chosen to cover migrations must be discerning and reflect these different prisms.

2. Rectify false or erroneous information on the subject of migrations. Any worthy journalist has a right to follow-up, which is also a duty, on the information he or she disseminates, and must ensure that any information disseminated that proves to be inaccurate is quickly rectified. Fact-checking is recommended for statements published or made by public figures about migrations.

3. Expose the mechanisms behind disinformation and stereotypes about migrations by providing verified, sourced and contextualized information. Journalists must respect the truth, whatever the consequences for themselves, because of the public’s right to know the truth.

4. Take care not to stigmatize any population group. Journalists must ensure that all media coverage respects the dignity of migrants, as well as question their own perceptions and biases. The Marseille Charter recommends that journalists only mention origin, religion or ethnicity if they feel it is relevant to informing the public.

5. Do not make migrants invisible. Balanced journalistic coverage of migrations must be sure to obtain information from all stakeholders, especially those primarily concerned.

6. Be vigilant about the terms used. Migrant, immigrant, refugee, foreigner or asylum seeker do not have the same meaning. Journalists must use the most appropriate words, referring to legal and scientific definitions, as well as administrative categories in application, to avoid confusion and approximation.

7. Apply the basic rules of image rights. Journalists must take the necessary precautions by ensuring the explicit and informed consent of migrants when they are filmed, recorded or photographed.

8. Ensure the use of illustrative images that reflect the diversity of migrations. Journalists must remain demanding regarding the relevance of photos or illustrative images. They must reflect the subject in a way that is as accurate and up-to-date as possible. This also applies to the use of stock photography, archives or generative artificial intelligence.

9. Highlight the facts, put them in context. Journalists must respect the scientific rigor of figures and statistical data. They will take care to put them into perspective, to avoid “case-by-case treatment” and to provide the best possible information on the political, economic and climatic causes and effects of migrations.

10. Train themselves and their peers. Journalists must have access to academic and professional training on the coverage of migrations, that encompasses legislative developments, human rights and the latest scientific research. This training should encourage cross-border collaborations (academic conferences, seminars, professional meetings or collaborative reporting with foreign newsrooms).

11. Measuring impact and improving practices. Journalists and their editorial teams are encouraged to carry out regular internal audits to evaluate and improve journalistic practices using tools such as glossaries and feedback sessions.