The International Symposium on ''Immigration Issues in the Mediterranean: Media Coverage and Approaches,'' organised at the initiative of Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) news agency, kicked off works on November 23, 2023 in Gammarth (Tunis northern suburb), in the presence of representatives of several Mediterranean news agencies, members of the Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies (AMAN). The two-day event, which is held as part of TAP's presidency of the Alliance (2023-2024), is co-chaired by AMAN President and TAP Chief Executive Officer Najeh Messaoui and AMAN Secretary-General Penantaex George. The symposium aims to delve into the multifaceted aspects of immigration in the Euro-Mediterranean region, with a specific focus on media coverage and strategies. Distinguished speakers and experts gathered to share insights and foster a comprehensive dialogue on this critical topic. Works of the symposium kicked off with a warm welcome by Najeh Messaoui. He pointed out the role played by TAP in covering hot is sues in the Mediterranean basin and across the world with objectivity and credibility, notably irregular immigration. Taking the floor, George Penintaex congratulated TAP on hosting a symposium which tackles a very important issue at a global level, indicating that immigration is a wide humanitarian topic, as people, especially women and children, move from their countries for a variety of reasons, namely inhumane conditions, poverty, wars, and natural factors. He underlined that the role of the media is to pressure authorities, governments and international agencies to launch projects and to combat immigration-related problems and challenges and create the necessary conditions to make people stay at home. For his part, Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Mounir Ben Rjiba pointed out the importance of objective media in unveiling the truth about the reasons behind irregular immigration. Tunisia has forged many partnerships and coordination with the various countries on the two shores of the Mediterranean with a view to combating irregular immigration, so as the basin would be a space of peace, security, stability and developement, he said. Tunisia spares no effort or expenses to combat smugglers and human traffickers, by close coordination with the President of the Republic, to address the reasons behind irregular immigration, instead of dealing with its repercussions, Ben Rjiba indicated. A video projection on immigration, produced by TAP, was screened on the occasion. Four presentations are on the agenda of the first day works, namely, «The Tunisian Approach to Combating Challenges of Immigration Movement in the Euro-Mediterranean Space» by Director General of the National Observatory for Migration Ahlam Hammami, ''Transparency and what is left unsaid in addressing the phenomenon of immigration in the media'' by Director of the Palestinian News Agency office in Tunisia Al-Taher Al-Sheikh, «Best media practices in dealing with immigration issues» by TAP jou rnalist Basma Al-Shattawi, «Humanitarian media and its role in raising awareness about immigration issues and dangers of irregular immigration» by official spokeswoman for the Tunisian Red Crescent Buthaina Gregueba and «Media Training in Immigration Issues» by Director of the Tunisian Institute of Press and Information Sciences (IPSI) Hamida Al-Bour. Source: EN - Agence Tunis Afrique Presse