Coffee with IOM - Episode 5 I Migration: The Stories We Tell

Welcome to “Coffee with IOM”, our podcast series where we sit down with experts, practitioners, and colleagues to explore the ideas, innovations, and partnerships shaping modern migration governance. In this fifth episode, IOM is pleased to welcome Dr. Aleksandra Krstić, Full Professor and Vice Dean for Research and International Cooperation at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade. Drawing on her extensive research in media studies and journalism, as well as her long-standing work on migration narratives, she explores how the media shapes public perceptions of migration and influences policy debates and public attitudes towards migrants and refugees. Through an engaging coffee-chat conversation, this episode examines the importance of ethical reporting on migration, the impact of sensationalism and stereotypes, the power of visual storytelling, and the role of social media in shaping public discourse. By sharing practical insights, Dr. Krstić highlights the responsibility of journalists to tell human-centered stories and encourages listeners to think critically about the narratives that influence how migration is understood.