Page - 34 - in Media – Migration – Integration - European and North American Perspectives

Rainer Geißler/Sonja Weber-Menges | Media Reception and Ideas on Media Integration 34 mass media. In the pluralistic German media system, ethno-media have functions similar to those of specific media for women, youth, or certain religious communities. Of major importance is the integrative nature of the content presented. Segregationist content – as in an exclusive focus on the original culture or a confrontation between a ‘superior’ original culture and the culture of the accommodating society that is presented in a distorted, negative way – is not in accordance with this model. - Media Use. It is unrealistic to expect Germans to make use of the ethno- media. For this reason, an appropriate representation of ethnic mino- rities in the German mass media is extremely important. On the other hand, it is absolutely indispensable for the intercultural integration of ethnic minorities that such minorities make use of the German mass media. With no knowledge of current affairs and their contexts in the society at large, integration into the social structures – appropriately taking advantage of opportunities in politics, on the labor market, in the educational system, and in other significant institutions (see above) – is not possible. Thus, the attractiveness of the German mass media for ethnic minorities is an important prerequisite for their intercultural integration. In addition, non-assimilated minorities with a bicultural orientation will also make use of the ethno-media of their original cul- ture. Through such groups, the dominant German public sphere becomes and remains interconnected with the ethnic sub-spheres. 2. Media Reception and Ideas on Media Integration among Turkish, Italian and Russo-German Migrants in Germany 2.1 Methodology We will now present some select tentative findings of a comprehensive study on media use and integration of migrants (including their children) from Turkey, Italy, and Russia. Over 1,000 persons from Italy, approximately 700 persons from Turkey (excluding Kurds), and approximately 1,000 persons from Russia were interviewed. Here, we will simply present the findings for over 500 Russo-Germans (not those for Russian Jews or for other Russians). Only members of pure migrant families were interviewed, that is, no children