On May 23, 2023, the It Takes A Community (ITAC) campaign held a live chat titled "From Disinformation to Empathy: Transforming the Perception of Migration". It featured Lola Hierro, writer, photographer, and experienced journalist from El País.
The live chat highlighted the call for responsible and empathetic storytelling in the realm of migration. Her insights emphasized upon the significance of understanding migrants' experiences, acknowledging their contributions, and ensuring that narratives accurately represent their stories. By adhering to ethical storytelling principles and incorporating migrants' voices directly, the live chat outilned the potential to transform perceptions and foster empathy among broader audiences.
Background
The live chat titled "From Disinformation to Empathy: Transforming the Perception of Migration" featured Lola Hierro. Her extensive experience lent insightful perspectives on reshaping narratives about migrants and migration, highlighting key strategies for a more empathetic and accurate portrayal.
Her stance resonated with the core principles of ethical and responsible storytelling when it comes to migration. She underscored the paramount importance of treating migrants with respect and empathy in narrative construction. Drawing on her journalistic expertise, Lola emphasized the significance of putting oneself in migrants' shoes to envision their experiences and consider how they would wish to be treated in a similar situation. A key highlight of her insights was her focus on dispelling misconceptions regarding migrants and migration. She shed light on the resilience and determination exhibited by migrants, dismantling the notion that migration is a frivolous or trivial choice. This perspective illuminated the depth of thought and consideration that often accompanies migrants' decisions.
She recognized that migrants' potential is fundamental to transforming narratives and fostering inclusivity. Ethical storytelling emerged as a central theme in her discourse. She stressed the importance of portraying their stories accurately and respectfully, ensuring that their experiences are faithfully represented.
Lastly, she brought attention to the indispensability of direct testimonies from migrants themselves. She emphasized that authentic and impactful storytelling necessitates incorporating migrants' own voices and experiences. These testimonies provide an unfiltered perspective, allowing audiences to grasp the intricacies and emotions tied to migration journeys.
Panelists
Lola Hierro- She is a journalist, writer, blogger, photographer, and traveler and is interested in human rights and development issues. She also has a book called 'Time stopped and other stories from Africa', published by the Kailas publishing house. It is a selection of 32 photos and 25 stories that she wrote between 2014 and 2018 from nine African countries.