IJA co-hosted this event as part of the Week of Freedom of Expression, held at the editorial offices of Frankfurter Rundschau in Frankfurt. The occasion was the presentation of the newly published study “Exile Journalistic Communities in Germany”, led by Prof. Dr. Hanan Badr and published by the Körber Foundation.
With around 60 attendees, the evening was well attended, bringing together IJA members and regional media professionals, including representatives of the German Journalists Union (dju) and executives from Hessischer Rundfunk. The evening was moderated by Dr. Andreas Goetze (Zentrum Ökumene of EKHN/EKKW), who skillfully guided the discussion.
The program began with a guided tour of the Frankfurter Rundschau newsroom, followed by the presentation of the study by Prof. Badr. The findings highlighted that Germany has become an important refuge for persecuted journalists in recent years. At the same time, the presentation pointed out ongoing structural challenges — including institutional recognition, integration into the German media landscape, and long-term professional perspectives for journalists in exile.
Prof. Badr not only presented key data and findings but also offered a critical reflection on the tension between protection and participation for exiled journalists in Germany. She stressed the need for an active media support policy that sees exiled journalists not merely as individuals in need of protection but as competent actors who enrich public discourse. Her call for a pluralistic media landscape that includes voices from exile as an integral part of the democratic conversation was particularly striking. Her presentation combined rigorous analysis with an impassioned societal appeal and set the tone for a lively discussion that followed.
Following this, Yasemin Aydın, Director of International Relations and Social Responsibility at IJA, provided a detailed overview of IJA’s mission and work. She emphasized the association’s role as a voice of exile journalism, a support network, and an international advocate for press freedom. Aydın also shared IJA’s solutions for supporting exiled journalists as a best-practice example, highlighting the association’s digitization efforts as a crucial part of its strategy.
IJA expressed its gratitude to the organizing partners of the Intercultural Media Dialogue — the Haus am Dom (Bistum Limburg), the Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau (EKHN), and Neue deutsche Medienmacher*innen — for their invitation and successful cooperation.
The Intercultural Media Dialogue Rhein-Main is an independent civil society dialogue series that fosters exchange between media, religious institutions, migrant organizations, and civil society actors. Its goal is to promote a deeper understanding of different perspectives on journalism, democracy, and social cohesion.