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Abstract:

This study explores the media experience (i.e., media use and perception) of ethnic minorities living in The Netherlands. Members of four ethnic groups were interviewed: Turks, Moroccans, Surinamers and Antilleans/Arubans. Each group was subdivided into three age categories: 15 to 20 year-olds, 20 to 40 year-olds and 40 to 60 year-olds. The information on the 20 to 40 and 40 to 60 age groups was gathered through key community figures (e.g., social workers, teachers) known to be very familiar with the target groups due to their own ethnic origins and/or professional activities. The central objective was to discover how ethnic minorities living in The Netherlands use the available media to obtain information relating to their own region, The Netherlands, their country of origin, or the wider world. It was concluded that media use patterns varied by age and ethnicity. The respondents were quite critical of the way they were portrayed by the Dutch media. Generally speaking, they did not recognize themselves in Dutch media content.