Even in the developed and freer nations, news and information is subject to partiality and unbalanced coverage or just plain omissions of the major issues. Coverage of international news is declining . Accurate media representation of world issues is crucial. Whenever media reports are censored or biased the people's basic rights are systematically undermined. In these situations violations and unaccountability often go unnoticed and suppressed viewpoints become commonplace.
Most people get their view of the world from mainstream media.
It is, therefore, important that mainstream media be objective and present accurate representations of what goes on around the world. In fact, UN Secretary-General Koffi Annan, in November 1998, criticized international news reporting in many developed nations for declining coverage of world events. Poor and misrepresented press coverage of the developing world by the developed countries such as the United Kingdom can lead to stereotyping . There are millions of immigrants living in many industrialized countries. Poor reporting or coverage of developing countries then, can result in further racism that already exists, adding to the already difficult situation that many immigrants face.