Evaluating and Enhancing Migration Coverage Practices in Mediterranean News Media: A COPEAM Case Study

The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, initiated with the 1995 Barcelona Process, sought to promote regional stability, cooperation, and mutual understanding across the two shores of the Mediterranean through economic, political, and cultural integration. Yet nearly three decades later, there is still a lack of regional cohesion, particularly in the public discourse surrounding migration. As migration continues to dominate the Mediterranean political and media agenda, the way it is framed by media outlets, and particularly by public broadcasters with its distinct responsibilities, has become a determining factor in either reinforcing societal divisions or cultivating inclusive narratives to form a shared regional identity. Thus, ethical journalism on migration emerges not only as a professional obligation but as an essential component to realise the partnership’s integration goals. This thesis examines the role of the Permanent Conference of the Mediterranean Audiovisual Operators (COPEAM), a unique transnational media cooperation network, in advancing ethical migration practices across Euro-Mediterranean public service media broadcasters and beyond. Starting its operation in 1996, in the context of the Barcelona Process, COPEAM aims to build bridges between different cultures and shores of the region through cross-border collaboration in the audiovisual sector, involving training-focused initiatives. Drawing on a qualitative case-study of COPEAM enriched by quantitative data, the research evaluates the organisation's impact in nurturing a regionally sensitive, inclusive, and ethical migration reporting. For this purpose, a needs assessment was used, comprising document analysis, unstructured interviews with institutional actors, and a semi-structured survey targeting journalists trained in its most notable workshops dedicated to migration. By analysing COPEAM’s strategies and interventions in the domain of migration journalism, the study identifies both achievements and limitations in the organisation’s modus operandi concerning the development of journalistic skills for ethical migration reporting. The final chapter proposes an innovative educational project, offering a new intervention that may be coordinated by COPEAM to promote the best practices in reporting on the issue. The initiative is rooted in the principles of co-development, multistakeholderism, intercultural balance, and regional specificity. By doing so, this thesis contributes to both academic and policy debates on the intersection between migration, media, and regional integration, highlighting the fundamental role of ethical journalism in the success of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.