Refugees and unauthorised migrants can be similar in several ways – both categories can use the services of traffickers, enter countries illegally or have fake documents. These similarities do not influence the substantial difference between the two groups, and they also contribute greatly to the confused reference to them by politicians, the media, and ordinary people. Ultimately, this confusion leads to a situation where the different groups are treated in the same way – they are rejected.
The problems which people seeking refuge in Bulgaria face often stem, to a great extent, from a lack of information. And this is where the role of the media comes in – the accurate information presented in an ethical way fights against prejudices in society. And the other way round – imprecise terminology, blurring the boundary between a refugee and an illegal immigrant create prejudices and therefore problems. In the worst case an article written in an incorrect manner can lead to outbursts of violence against a particular person or group. The same applies for revealing the identity of people who have escaped persecution – they could be harmed or hurt, as well as their relatives who still live in the respective country of origin.