On 8 October 2024, the EQUIROM project held a seminar on the portrayal of Roma in Bulgarian media in Sofia, Bulgaria. The event gathered key stakeholders, including representatives from the EQUIROM project, the Council of Europe (CoE), the Bulgarian journalists’ union, Roma NGOs, journalism students, Roma activists, and members of the Bulgarian government and Media Regulator (Council of Electronic Media).

The seminar's primary focus was the recently published research on the portrayal of Roma in the broadcasting media. The attendees explored how Roma are represented in the Bulgarian media, often through stereotypes or marginalized perspectives. The discussions centered on identifying areas of improvement, both in terms of legal frameworks and journalistic practices. Specific cases of biased media portrayal were examined, illustrating how background images, language, and tone can negatively influence public perceptions of Roma communities. 

An important feature of the seminar was the presentation of the adapted HELP* course Discrimination against Roma for journalists and media professionals. This course focuses on raising awareness about Roma-related issues and combating antigypsyism in the media. The course offers practical tools to help journalists report ethically and responsibly on ethnic minorities, with a focus on human rights. The speakers from the Association of European Journalists in Bulgaria (AEJ), Maria Milkova and Maria Cheresheva, also referred to the guidelines on ethical reporting on children, especially of minority or foreign origin, prepared by AEJ and UNICEF.

In addition, updates on the EQUIROM campaign in Bulgaria were shared, focused on promoting education for all as a right, not a privilege. Campaign materials are destined to teachers, parents, and school employees, with the goal of fostering inclusivity in the education sector. The campaign materials will be soon published on EQUIROM website.

The seminar concluded with a strong call for change. Participants stressed the importance of representing Roma voices in the media to counteract their marginalisation. The Council of Electronic Media expressed its commitment to collaborating on measures to combat discrimination. The seminar reaffirmed the need for continued cooperation between media professionals, the government, and Roma activists to create a more inclusive and balanced media environment in Bulgaria.

Useful links:

• The HELP Module on "Discrimination against Roma" tailored to journalists and media professionals in Bulgarian language available in Bulgarian upon request. If you wish to follow the course, please request the connection links by contacting [email protected] 
• Study on the portrayal of Roma in the Bulgarian media in Bulgarian language 
• AEJ-UNICEF “Children and the media - a guidebook on ethical reporting”