This article was written by Aidan White and originally published at The Ethical Journalism Network on 09 June, 2014.

One of the toughest tests of ethical journalism in Europe is the tragic story of migration involving thousands of poverty-stricken men, women and children from Africa and the Middle East – many of them fugitives from war – who risk their lives to make a perilous sea crossing in search of sanctuary on the shores of Italy and Spain.

Mario Calabresi, Editor in Chief of La Stampa, a leading Italian daily, told the press freedom roundtable at the 66th World Newspaper Congress in Turin this week that the plight ofmigrants is often under reported by media who fear that they may become victims of aggressive campaigns by racists, political parties and by citizens.

“In an era of social networking, pressure on journalists is strong,” he said. “It can push newspapers into not taking sides, sticking only to the bare facts in order to avoid criticism and out of fear of being boycotted and losing readers.”

Calabresi challenges this response. Indeed, he argues that the migrant story provides an opportunity to show how important journalism is for the future of democracy. He uses his own newspaper’s actions to illustrate how to tell the story with compassion, humanity and accuracy.

To continue reading, visit: http://ethicaljournalismnetwork.org/en/contents/humanity-in-the-news-an-italian-case-study-on-how-to-tell-the-migrant-story