Writes Dionysus, Content Writer, Headline Diplomat eMagazine, LUDCI.eu
The media plays a vital role in influencing public understanding and persuasion on societal problems. Besides, it shapes policies, programs, and legislative action. In the past, only a few news outlets were willing to expose social issues such as human trafficking. And when they did expose them, the news included misinformation and outdated statistics. Nowadays, a better effort has been made to report and expose human trafficking activities, but it should still be given more attention. Some of the best showcases are reported below.
De Moines Register conducted an investigation in 2009, which led to the release of several men with intellectual disabilities. The men were living in filth, abused, and forced to work for peanuts in a Turkey processing plant in Atalissa, Iowa. The former executive director of Disability Rights Iowa, said, “To me, what happened to those men in Atalissa was criminal – and it should have been treated as such.”
A great milestone in media reporting on human trafficking is the CNN Freedom Project. This project was initiated to create awareness about modern slavery around the world. In 2010, CNN celebrated 7 years of covering more than 600 investigative stories on human trafficking. One of the stories covered is of an Albanian victim of modern-day slavery in the UK. He was forced to grow Cannabis and regretted leaving his home. He told CNN, “If I knew it would go like this, I would never leave Albania,” he added, “I would stay home.”
In 2011, Al Jazeera English highlighted various forms of slavery around the world in a unique series dubbed, “Slavery: A 21st Century Evil.” The series showcases all kinds of slavery, from women forced into prostitution to bonded laborers in Pakistan’s feudal brick kilns, destitute & usually illiterate Thai farmers, and much more.
National Public Radio also uncovered activities of human trafficking in Thailand’s massive fishing industry. In one of their morning shows, the radio revealed instances of forced labor from trafficked workers. Thailand supplies a huge portion of America’s seafood. However, it is short of up to 60, 000 fishermen per year. To make up for this number, human traffickers are selling captives to captains for a few dollars. In a revelation, one of the fleet owners, Ekawat, said, “There are about 15, 000 men working on the boats, and about 40 percent of them are using foreign labor,” he added, “We depend on them.”
In another six-month investigative series, “Modern-day Slavery in Focus” by the Guardian, it shows direct connections between men forced to labor on fishing boats and in the production of seafood sold by big retailers around the world. This feature also shows how the Thailand fishing industry is promoting human trafficking to be used for forced labor. Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia division told the Guardian, “The use of trafficked labour is systematic in the Thai fishing industry.” He also added, “The industry would have a hard time operating in its current form without it.” This just shows how forced labor is treated as normal in the Thai fishing industry.
Other media outlets like the Los Angeles Times have uncovered the severe conditions that migrant farmworkers face in Mexico. In a four-part series named, “Product of Mexico,” they show how workers are exploited and paid peanuts. Most of the produce from these farms are supplied to the United States. Japolina Jaime, a field hand at Rene Produce, a grower of tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers told Los Angeles Times,” They want us to take such a great are of tomatoes, but they don’t take care of us.”
The New York Times investigated lawlessness at sea and documented several crimes committed, within a two-year span. The media outlet then came up with a series called, “The Outlaw Ocean.” It consists of a seven-part series. In one of the series dubbed, “Sea Slaves,” vulnerable people are deceived and sold for a few dollars to captains of ships. It seems like this is a lucrative business in the Thai fishing industry.
Human trafficking is being conducted all over the world, even in America. A study carried out by students from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland and reported by Capital News Service showed human trafficking in Maryland. The Six-part investigative series displayed more than three-dozen state and federal human trafficking cases that took place between 2005 and 2015. The report discovered at least 70 cases of forced labor and sex trafficking.
The way media outlets report human trafficking news plays a huge role in ending this vice. Associated Press conducted an 18-month investigative story, dubbed, “Seafood from Slaves,” which helped to free at least 2, 000 trafficking victims. Besides, the seafood they sold was tracked and led to the confinement of culprits, congressional hearing, and the unveiling of new laws. The men freed were confiscated in cages, where they couldn’t escape. For instance, one of the captives from Benjina, Sriev Kry told AP while shaking his head, “I was just rescued from hell.”
Conclusion:
The manner in which the media reports on human trafficking is as important as what is being reported. This is because the overall impact of these stories is viewed in a manner the public, politicians, law enforcement, and other media outlets comprehend the problem. Now, what’s most needed is media outlets that are vigilant to research and report more on human trafficking cases to keep the public informed on how the crime works, how to detect & assist trafficking victims, and avert the crime from taking place.
