CHILD REPORTING IS A SERIOUS JOB

HIMANSHU SHEKHAR

Child reporting is often treated as a non serious job but the fact is quite different. Infact Journalists face significant challenges during reporting on children. This is a daunting task that needs time, skills and ethical considerations.

Media faces challenges such as attacks from Governments, commercial pressures...children's rights are violated as the media capitalises on their emotional impact and powerful images to boost the sale of their products.

Children's stories tend to be negative and dramatic and their voices are seldom heard as there is a very limited representation of children in the news.

However, any journalist reporting on children must have a better understanding of child rights. It can’t be justified that in some part of world media is revealing the identity (pictures and names) of children victims of sexual abuse, HIV and AIDS, domestic violence and other crimes.

In South Africa there is a proper Children's Act for media guidance. A journalist could land in jail for 20 years if found guilty of contravening the act.

Good reporting of children's issues gives a great deal of insight into the world they live in and telling a child's story well is a way for readers and audiences to examine themselves.