Media and civil society gather in Monaco debate the outcomes of the Anna Lindh Report 2010 and the contribution of journalists to bridging gaps in mutual perceptions across the two shores of the Mediterranean.

On the occasion of the international ceremony of the Anna Lindh Journalist Award 2010 – taking place in the Principality of Monaco on Thursday 14th October 2010 – a roundtable event is being organized on the theme of ‘Media and Intercultural Relations in the Euro-Mediterranean region’.

The debate, which will involve renowned media experts and Mediterranean personalities, will commence with a presentation of the 2010 ‘Anna Lindh Report on Euro-Mediterranean Intercultural Trends’ which has a thematic focus on the impact of media on public perceptions across the two shores of the Mediterranean.

The Anna Lindh Report – which was launched last month in Brussels – is based on the very first Euro-Mediterranean Survey on cross-cultural trends and values, which was carried out by Gallup Europe with 13,000 people in 13 countries,  and which includes qualitative analysis by media experts and practitioners.

According to the Report findings, nearly four-fifths of people questioned in eight European countries and two-thirds of those questioned in five countries in the southern and eastern Mediterranean (SEM) were unable to recall coming across anything in the media recently that had enhanced their view of people in the 'other' group.

At the same time, the Report’s qualitative analyses places emphasis on the promotion of new media formats and entertainment media, whether film, real-life narratives or talent contests, as tools to reach a broad audience and demonstrate the diversity and richness of Euro-Mediterranean societies by providing examples of intercultural co-existence.

The media debate, which is being co-organised by the Monaco Mediterranean Foundation and the Anna Lindh Foundation’s headquarters in Alexandria, is taking place on the occasion of the award ceremony of the Mediterranean Journalist Award 2010, which is the Region’s leading prize in recognition of journalists reporting across cultures and on issues of cultural diversity.