Challenge
The media play a decisive role in shaping public perceptions and influencing how society understands reality. Narratives, news framing and journalistic practices can, consciously or unconsciously, contribute to the reproduction of stereotypes, prejudice and hate speech targeting certain groups. At the same time, they can also serve as a powerful tool for fostering a more inclusive society. In response to this challenge, the Catalan Red Cross launched a project to analyse how hate speech is manifested and reproduced in the media, while identifying strategies to promote communication that upholds human rights. The project aims to generate applied knowledge and provide communication professionals with practical tools to integrate the principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination into their daily work.
Response
To address this challenge, Spora designed a qualitative methodology based on the participation of communication professionals. Through collective reflection sessions, the project explores how hate speech manifests itself in the media, as well as the factors, challenges and opportunities that shape journalistic practice. The outcome is an applied diagnosis that combines an analysis of the findings with a set of practical recommendations and tools aimed at promoting more rigorous, responsible and rights-based communication, grounded in the principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination.