The Media Institute for Diversity is a media project, which runs under the auspices of the Association of Journalists in Romania , and has been initiated by a group of journalists who write in Romanian language, languages of national minorities or asylum seekers and refugees who live in Romania, and which is meant to promote an innovate approach of diversity in Romania. Mass-media, as an opinion maker and as the “fourth power of a modern state”, play a major role in this process of reconfiguration of the pluralist society, of the “union in diversity”, in cultural mediation (age, gender, sexual orientation criteria), intercultural mediation (ethnic and religious minorities) and trans-national mediation (asylum seekers, refugees, tourists), in fighting every form of discrimination, etc.
| Diversity: a definition Diversity means that every person is unique and has the right to respect for his or her individual/collective differences. These differences can be understood in the dimension of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social and economic position, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political or ideological conviction. These differences have to be approached in a safe and positive environment, that should be open to social learning. Understanding the Other involves a shift from simple tolerance to the acceptance and celebration of the richness which is inherent in the Diversity that exists in each of us. |
The institutionalisation of Difference – an emergency of the global state/village
Multiculturalism, as an “ideology of Difference”, seems to be a firm option of the new global society, a re-thought Alterity and pluralism. This is not just a change in the paradigm of the societal culture, for which diversity should be a new social value, but it should be more of a development of abilities to understand differences in terms of language, ethnicity, gender, religion, etc.
The role that the mass-media plays in lining up the prejudice and stereotypes about Alterity on public agendas is sometimes distorting, intolerant, and may generate, without even knowing it, conflicts, social and domestic tension, or may trifle some topics that are of interest to the public opinion. Examples: Romania’s regular compliance reports regarding the criteria that were undertaken by ratifying the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (Law No. 33/1995), Law No. 202/2002 on equality of chances among men and women, the Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children.
In a “decent society”, the difference may not be a reason for discrimination or privilege.
As a priority, The Media Institute for Diversity will de-concentrate the subjectivism of self-identification and hetero-identification, and will plead in favour of a quantifiable reception of inter-personal and inter-group similarities and differences. In its capacity as an involved Observer, MID will support the streamlining of communication between the mass-media and the public, in order to stimulate the public into building a well-balanced opinion that should be open to a fair intercultural dialogue.
