23/2/2021
MiFriendly Cities includes Newsroom and Media Lab sessions, run by Migrant Voice, which have allowed participants to work with staff and journalists to train in photography, news writing, social media and filmmaking skills. The Migrant Voice newsroom team were out in Coventry recently to film an interview with a lead sponsor of MiFriendly Cities, Peter Barnett CBE, Coventry City Council’s Head of Service Libraries and Migration.
Maintaining social distancing and following health & safety measures, Farisai Dzemwa and Morshed Akhtar conducted an interview with Peter outside the Coventry City Council House to be included in a film about MiFriendly Cities and its achievements over the last three years.
Farisai and Morshed, who have both been active members of the Migrant Voice and MiFriendly Cities newsroom since January 2020, posed a series of questions to Peter about the wider West Midlands project, its development, milestones and forthcoming conclusion.
Farisai filmed the interview, maintaining control of camera and audio work, while Morshed put questions to Peter. The newsroom members have been developing their multimedia skills from first-time users to becoming fully fledged content creators.
Speaking after the interview, Farisai from Wolverhampton said: “Our interview with Peter Barnett this morning was humbling and enriched my community inclusive spirit.”
“Being behind the camera to record was exciting as I love the idea of sharing some of MiFriendly Cities’ and partner’s hard work. COVID-19 did not stop us but taught us to think outside the box.”
Morshed from Walsall said: “It was a pleasure and a great opportunity to interview Peter Barnett today. He is not only an active supporter of refugee and migrants in the UK, he has been honoured with CBE award for his services to refugees in Coventry, too.”
“His amiable personality along with a positive dreams to make Coventry even better place for immigrants attracted me most, while interviewing him today for the final film of MiFriendlyCities.”
Newsroom and Media Lab sessions have allowed participants to work with staff and journalists to train in photography, news writing, social media and filmmaking skills.
Since March 2020, these sessions have largely been online with limited opportunities to meet up in-person.
Most of the interviews for the MiFriendly film have been online and with representatives from local authorities, refugee & migrant centres; and several key partner organisations.
The final film will be screened as part of the MiFriendly Cities ‘Share Our Journey’ Online Event on March 10th. Click here to register.
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This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative.
