OPPapers.com

Should The Media Advance National Interests Before Those On Refugees

Should the media advance national interest before the promotion of international refugee rights.

Should the media advance national interest before the promotion of international refugee rights.

A refugee is somebody seeking a safe place in a foreign country, especially to avoid war or persecution from a situation which is usually imposed on the person, and not voluntarily brought upon oneself. The portrayal of a typical refugee is done mainly through the media which a strong social and cultural impact upon society. This is predicted upon the ability to reach wide audiences which often sends a strong and influential message. Marshall Mc Luhan uses the tem ‘the medium is the message’ as a means of explaining how the distribution of the message can often be more important then the message itself. It is through the persuasiveness of mediums such as television, radio and print media that a target audience is reached. Studies have shown that television broadcasting has a large amount of control in influencing the ideas, opinions, judgments and views of the public. One can thus say that the media, to such and extend, determines our views regarding current affairs and world wide problems, case in point, refugee tribulations.

The refugee problem has been a well discussed issue for decades. In the preamble of the Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, the Heads of State and Government assembled in the city of Addis Ababa (from 6-10 September 1969). The national interest of the African countries (which are the leading nations from which refugees and illegal immigrants depart from) was constructed with great consideration for the receiving countries. The first point discussed was with regards to the increasing numbers of refugees in Africa and the desire to find ways and means of alleviating their misery and suffering as well as providing them with a better life and future. This also included the recognition for the need for an...