The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
Time to read
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 19 years ago
Last updated 1 year ago
Read so far

Media Code of Conduct to Realise Children's Rights

0 comments

Author

  • The Concerned for Working Children
Written and published by The Concerned for Working Children (CWC) in India, the draft Media Code of Conduct to Realise Children's Rights aims to encourage a paradigm shift in the media's approach to children to ensure their full participation in society. The Media Code of Conduct has been developed to: give children a say in defining the media; outline children's rights-based standards so that children as citizens are creators of media in society; and provide a tool for monitoring of children's rights violations by the media or by civil society groups. According to the publishers, the violation of children's rights by the media, whether through insensitive reportage, misrepresentation or denial of space for children's opinions on various issues, is the focus of this Media Code of Conduct. The code proposes that media reporting on children must not just be fair and honest but should be true to the spirit of children's rights. Children have the right to not just fair coverage but also to be producers of media in society.

There were three primary areas examined in the code.
  • Children as ‘producers’ of media - themes include Children as creators of media in society; creating spaces for children’s expression and opinions of realities around them.
  • Children as ‘users’ of media - themes include children’s access to media; right to information; children's rights content, right to protection from harmful content.
  • Children as ‘subjects’ of media - themes include children as subjects rather than objects of the media; right to protection from misrepresentation and stereotyping; right to privacy, confidentiality and dignity
The Media Code of Conduct was intended as a tool with which children can demand their space in the media and was conceptualised as a dynamic tool that would continuously evolve through a process of debate and discussion. As of this writing, media professionals, media training and educational institutes and civil society groups are being invited to review and and give feedback on the document, through which a final draft can be evolved and endorsed.

Click here for more information and to download the order form.

Publishers

Source

Email from CWC to The Communication Initiative, May 26 2006 and CWC website, May 30 2006.