Roma journalists hold conference in Bialystok to discuss media stereotypes

Roma journalists and those writing about this group from Poland, Czech Republic, Yugoslavia and other Central European countries are discussing issues related to the media's role in the integration of European societies in Bialystok. Romas wish to create an accurate image of themselves in media. They say they are always portrayed as either artists or thieves. Journalists from Central and Eastern Europe emphasize that in criminal cases the media always stresses a bandit was a Roma and this is discrimination. "Minority treatment in the media may cause an increase or decrease in racism," said the editor-in-chief of RRom Po Drom newspaper, the president of the Central Council of Romas in Poland and deputy president of the International Council of Romas Stanislaw Stankiewicz. There are between 30,000-50,000 Romas in Poland living mainly in the south. (Rzeczpospolita, Aug. 26-27, page A4)