Over the years, journalists have helped steer the EU, one question, one leaked report and one tenacious investigation at a time <a target="_blank">(Photo: Shada Islam)</a>
Over the years, journalists have helped steer the EU, one question, one leaked report and one tenacious investigation at a time (Photo: Shada Islam)

EU politics

‘Brussels So White’ — but what role play journalists?

By Shada Islam,
Brussels
,

Writing about structural racism in the EU is not for the faint-hearted. It requires persistence, resilience and a (very) thick skin. 

Additional assets? An ability to separate fact from fiction and differentiate myth from reality. Perhaps also a touch of kindness and empathy, a minimal understanding of societal power asymmetries, and yes, a dogged determination to check facts.

It is a tough job. And as we have seen recently, not everyone gets it right.

The EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency repeatedly spotlights the degree of racism and discrimination facing minority communities across the EU. Pointing out this fact, however, is not welcome. 

On the other hand, in keeping with the current xenophobic and anti-Muslim mood music across much of Europe, it is much easier to repeat facile Islamophobic tropes. 

It looks set to get worse.

Expect more transatlantic contagion as US president Donald Trump takes a sledgehammer to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and our own homegrown racists start acting on their promise to reconquer the EU and ‘Make Europe Great Again’. 

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Over the years, journalists have helped steer the EU, one question, one leaked report and one tenacious investigation at a time (Photo: Shada Islam)

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Author Bio

Shada Islam Shada Islam  is an EUobserver columnist, and independent EU analyst and commentator who runs her own strategy and advisory company New Horizons Project. She has recently won the European Woman in Media award and the Media Career Award 2023 for her outstanding work and powerful voice on EU affairs and focus on building an inclusive Union of Equality.