In Germany, as in the United States, millions of people come from an immigrant background, and this has become a frequent topic of discourse. Germany’s contingent of immigrants under the age of 30 continues to rise. In the United States, at the center of the discussion are Latin Americans. Given this, integration is vital and the media plays an essential role. How one publicly speaks about foreigners, refugees, guest workers, and ethnic minorities, as well as about the possibility of living and thriving together in society, effectively determines whether this integration succeeds or fails. The development of a common perspective for all of society’s members depends greatly on the media’s information and reactions. While reporting, journalists should reflect their responsibility for a successful and thriving integration.

Professor of Media Studies at the University of Erfurt, Kai Hafez, along with Mexico reporter for the Chicago Tribune, Oscar Avila, and Professor Loren Ghiglione from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, highlight, discuss, and compare the media’s role in the process of immigrant integration in the USA and Germany.

Beginning with this discussion, the Goethe-Institut is proud to present a series of events with the theme “Culture on the Move”. From every angle, this series pursues the issue of how to achieve a peaceful cooperation between different cultures, ethnicities, and religions in a global society.

Recorded Monday, May 19, 2008 at Goethe-Institut Chicago.