The International Migration & Environmental Film Festival (IMEFF) is an annual event that brings together filmmakers, activists, and audiences to explore the intricate connections between migration and the environment. This year, in collaboration with Migrant Matters, IMEFF is proud to present an enlightening workshop titled “Media, Migration & Myths: Taking Back the Narrative.” Join us on June 7, 2023, at 10:00 AM EST / 4:00 PM CET for an engaging session that will unravel the power of media in shaping our understanding of migration.
The Media, Migration & Myths workshop aims to dissect the narratives surrounding migration and challenge the prevailing myths that often cloud public perception. Facilitated by the dynamic duo of Sophia Burton, founder of Migration Matters, and Maggie Perzyna, from CERC Migration, this workshop promises to be a thought-provoking and empowering experience.
Media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and understanding. Unfortunately, migration narratives are often overshadowed by stereotypes, misinformation, and biased reporting. This workshop aims to shed light on the power dynamics within media representations and explore ways to reclaim the narrative, ensuring a more accurate and compassionate portrayal of migration stories.
Registration: To participate in this transformative workshop, simply click here. Once registered, you will receive access to the workshop session and other engaging festival content. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a constructive conversation that seeks to reshape the narrative around migration.
Meet the Facilitators:
Sophia Burton is the managing director of Migration Matters whose work lies at the intersection of migration, media, and online education. In 2016, she co-founded Migration Matters e.V., a non-profit organization based in Berlin, Germany, that promotes nuanced and evidence-based debate about migration and diversity and aims to combat discrimination and increasing polarization in society. She has over 12 years of experience in project management and network development and has previously worked at Migration Media Service, Kiron Open Higher Education, and Migration Policy Institute. Sophia holds a Masters in International Education Policy from Harvard University and is a dual German-American citizen originally from Washington, DC.
Maggie Perzyna is a researcher with the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration & Integration program (CERC Migration) at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is interested in the ways that policies impact the lived experience of migrants. When she isn’t thinking about policy, Maggie is working on her second passion: mobilizing the knowledge produced at CERC Migration beyond the walls of the university. She was the co-lead on Migrant Lives in Pandemic Times, a digital-storytelling project that captured the experience of migrant workers during the pandemic and is the host of podcast Borders & Belonging, a podcast that aims to dispel myths about migration based on academic research. Maggie Perzyna has an LLB from Osgoode Hall and an MA in Immigration & Settlement Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University (2020).
In collaboration with: