Foreword by Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London  "...this report raises issues that are too important to be ignored. Its findings suggest that media reporting of refugee and asylum seekers does have an impact at community level and that the media needs to be more careful about the accuracy and fairness of its coverage of these issues".

London has for centuries been a city of immigration. The most striking feature of this in recent years has been the arrival of asylum seekers and refugees from all parts of the world. Like those who came before them they are a tremendous asset for London and have much to contribute to London’s economic, social and cultural life. We must do all we can to help them to settle successfully and I am pleased that what they bring to our city is valued by many Londoners.

But this is not always the case. Instead of feeling welcome many feel threatened and face daily harassment and persecution. Refugee community groups and other agencies working in this field have consistently linked this to intensive and largely hostile reporting of asylum issues by the media. I have shared their concerns and in summer 2003 I commissioned the Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees in the UK to explore the impact of negative reporting on refugee and asylum issues on community relations in London.

Media coverage of refugee and asylum seekers issues has been researched elsewhere but the Media Images, Community Impact study is unique in that it explores the community impact of this media reporting. Assessing the precise impact of the media on people’s understanding of the world is a difficult task, and estimating the media’s influence on behaviour is even more challenging. Nevertheless this report raises issues that are too important to be ignored. Its findings suggest that media reporting of refugee and asylum seekers does have an impact at community level and that the media needs to be more careful about the accuracy and fairness of its coverage of these issues.

The report makes a number of recommendations that will help to strengthen London’s communities and the understanding that they have of refugee and asylum issues. This includes proposals for further monitoring, working with the media and establishing ways of making accurate information readily available to them. I will be exploring these recommendations with partner organisations and will bring the findings to the attention of those who control the media.

 Ken Livingstone Mayor of London

Read the report in full