Artwork drawn by people displaced by the war in Ukraine. By Mike DuBose, UM News.

Changing the Narrative to Counter Biased Migration Reporting

CCME, WCC, and WACC launch a collaborative initiative comparing media portrayals of migrants with lived realities in European communities, and are seeking a Research Project Coordinator.

The Churches’ Commission on Migrants in Europe (CCME), together with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), is proud to announce the launch of the “Changing the Narrative” project. A timely and important initiative that challenges the dominant media framing of migration across Europe.

At a time when public discourse on migration is too often shaped by sensationalism and political rhetoric, this project turns the spotlight onto something too frequently overlooked: the real experiences of people living and building lives in multicultural neighbourhoods across the continent.

“WACC, WCC and us at CCME had planned this project in 2023 and incurred a delay in starting it. Unfortunately, it has in the meantime become even more urgent to change the narrative on migration by looking at the experiences of people on the ground instead of media hypes,” said Torsten Moritz, CCME General Secretary.

About the Project

The “Changing the Narrative” project will compare how refugees and migrants in multicultural neighbourhoods are portrayed in the media with how they are perceived and experienced by communities in specific national contexts across Europe. Building on a previous media monitoring initiative led by CCME and WACC Europe, the Refugees Reporting project, this new initiative will connect local church networks to a broader global platform and engage member churches in structured media monitoring and community research.

The project runs for a maximum of one year, from April/May 2026 to March/April 2027, and is supported by OPM Valdese.

What the Project Will Do

The research coordinator will:

• Update and refine the existing media monitoring methodology (used for Refugees Reporting: https://www.wacceurope.org/projects/refugees-reporting/).
• Design a qualitative research methodology to collect and analyze community perceptions of migrants and refugees, ensuring cultural and contextual sensitivity.
• Identify and engage national and local coordinators, providing structured training sessions to support their participation in media monitoring and community surveys.
• Collaborate with local church networks and civil society organizations to support inclusive research participation, ensuring diverse voices and lived experiences are meaningfully represented — including through narrative and storytelling approaches.
• Collect, analyze, and synthesize research findings, drawing comparisons between media portrayals and on-the-ground realities.
• Lead the writing, editing, and dissemination of the final report, making it accessible for a broad audience, including faith communities, policymakers, and advocacy groups.
• Regularly communicate with the project working group (CCME, WCC, and WACC) to ensure alignment with project goals and to provide progress updates.
• Coordinate outreach efforts to promote research findings and encourage informed public dialogue on migration narratives.

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in research methodologies, particularly in media analysis and community-based participatory research.
• Strong organizational skills to manage both personal workflow and coordination with volunteer research teams.
• Familiarity with WACC’s media monitoring methodology is an asset.
• Deep understanding of migration issues in the European context, including challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers, and an appreciation of church networks’ role in social justice and advocacy are an asset.
• Ability to work remotely while maintaining strong communication and collaboration with project stakeholders.
• Good analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize research findings into clear, accessible, and impactful reports.
• Experience working in intercultural and interfaith contexts, with a commitment to fostering inclusive narratives on migration.
• Ability to adapt research methodologies to various national contexts, ensuring local relevance and meaningful engagement.
• Experience in facilitating workshops and training sessions is a plus.

Supervision and Collaboration:
The research coordinator will work under the supervision of CCME’s General Secretary and in collaboration with the project working group (CCME, WCC, and WACC).

Working Conditions and Remuneration:

• Individuals are expected to be registered as freelancers or consultants and meet the legal requirements as such in their country of residence.
• The consultant must be based in Europe and able to work remotely.
• Number of days under contract to be agreed.
• Contract: Maximum €10,000.

For further information or to apply, please contact CCME General Secretary Torsten Moritz at torsten.moritz@ccme.be . 

To be considered, kindly submit your CV along with a short motivation letter (maximum 1 page) by 15 April.

Supported by

OPM Valdese