MAX – Maximizing Migrants’ Contribution to Society

MAX aims at changing the public perception of migrants’ contribution to society.

Grant Agreement Number: 821672

Funded by: AMIF Duration: 28/01/2019 – 28/01/2022

Challenge

Overwhelming evidence suggests that migrants are a benefit to society. Migrants contribute more in taxes and social contributions than they receive in benefits, boost the working-age population, bring in skills, create enterprises, form a bridge to global markets and enrich culture. Also, the demographic change that Europe is facing threatens the sustainability of its social welfare system, and there is a structural demand for migrant workers in certain occupations such as care.

However, the positive impact on European economies and societies is insufficiently publicly acknowledged by the media, policy-makers, researchers, or public opinion. Portraying migrants as a threat to national unity and social cohesion or a burden on public finances leads to an increasingly hostile environment and debate, and contributes to the rise of xenophobia and right wing extremism.

Therefore, a change of narrative is essential to work jointly towards a future in a peaceful, cohesive and booming Europe.

Innovation

By using storytelling, creating positive messages for the media and organizing encounters between locals and newcomers, MAX aims at humanizing the issues around migration and changing the public perception of migrants’ contribution to society.

Action

The report produces and delivers messages that refute stereotypes and change minds not only by expert, scientific or political discourse or statistics alone, but also by showing experiences, achievements and contribution of migrants. The biggest impact on public opinion is created by telling real-life stories, which demonstrates that reality might be different from some caricature presented by populist politicians or messages from mass media.

Solutions journalism (SOJO) not only emphasizes to the solutions but also aims to package the content in a way that makes it more likely to be shared and used by relevant practitioners. Background data, reports and research are gathered and linked from the master content, relevant influencers are involved in the creation process and thus feel invested in the content, and the content is designed to appeal to relevant networks.

The training is based on: (a) researching, presenting and discussing; (b) piloting a new style of reporting migrants’ experiences, achievements and contributions, with journalists co-creating some news reporting and; (c) publishing columns in various newspapers and magazines around Europe.

Do you wish to participate in the training? Kindly send us a message ([email protected]) and we will come back to you with more information!

The Diversity Dialogue Fora bring together third-countries’ nationals, local residents, public administration, organizations involved in migrant integration, local newspapers and magazines and other stakeholders. They work together on overcoming stereotypes and misconceptions, and analyze and comment during round tables and debates the evidence-based findings on the positive contribution of migrants to the EU society of the project.

Do you wish to participate in the Diversity Dialogue Fora? Kindly send us a message ([email protected]) and we will come back to you with more information!

The Policy Recommendation Paper includes recommendations for policy-makers for the effective integration of migrants.