while diversity is central to Brazil’s identity, media representation remains inadequate. Between 1995 and 2018, only 2% of major films were directed by Black men, and in 2022, no mainstream films were directed by women. However, progress is visible, especially in telenovelas and advertising. Mr. Novail shared initiatives like the Negritudes Globo Festival, which celebrates Black narratives and fosters inclusion. Stressing that representation benefits everyone, he called for collective action to drive lasting change in the media and society. Prof. John Nguyet Erni highlighted the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, particularly South and Southeast Asians. Despite making up 8.4% of the population, persons belonging to these minorities often face stereotypes in mainstream media, reinforcing social exclusion and economic disparity. Sensationalist portrayals in TV and film depict them as criminals or comedic figures and reinforce negative stereotypes, with blackface and brownface still appearing in local productions. Prof. Erni explained that online racial discrimination intensified during the COVID-19 crisis, fostering hostility toward minorities. However, ethnic media and digital platforms have allowed minority voices to gain visibility, led by youths who engage in creative fields, using social media for self-representation and community building, articulating their hybrid identities. Interactive Dialogue In the interactive dialogue, participants raised numerous concerns related to minority issues and presented various initiatives. The participants raised issues related to hate speech, underlining the continuum between hate speech and the discrimination and violence faced by persons belonging to minorities as well as the role of social media in encouraging society’s polarization. They noted the role of the media in perpetuating scapegoating and negative stereotypes of minority groups through misinformation and misrepresentation, as persons belonging to minorities are often portrayed as violent or criminals. Furthermore, minorities are being excluded and invisibilised in the media, and are thus denied the opportunity to express their voice and share their culture. Participants from countries where the media landscape is controlled by the state, in particular, indicated that there is no space for diverse voices in their programmes. The participants also highlighted situations in which journalists investigating minority issues are harassed and have disappeared. Finally, they noted the potential of artificial intelligence and social media technology to worsen inequalities. Initiatives were presented to encourage multilingual content and cultural diversity, especially in the media, to shape new narratives based on minorities’ self-representation, and to overcome the silencing of persons belonging to minorities. The participants advocated for the development of artificial intelligence systems based on diversity and inclusion as core principles to prevent perpetuating biases. They also noted the importance of providing digital literacy training to minority groups. 10

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