Child Rights and the Media: Putting Children in the Right

This book explores the need for journalistic training for all levels of reporting in regard to the importance of children's rights. This includes examining how media works, how existing principles of accountability apply and how media must be free from political and economical pressures that can limit professionalism and undermine ethical standards. There are standards and benchmarks by which media can judge how they portray children in society.

The author's position is that media professionals need to play a leading role in this debate or others will seek to control them through regulations. Such regulations will not be effective in protecting children and will make it more difficult for good journalists to do their jobs. "If children's rights figure prominently in mainstream media it is usually in the context of child abuse, exploitation, and sensationalist news making. Children are generally seen and heard at a distance, reflecting a weakness that resonates through any discussion on media and the rights of children, that young people are seldom allowed to speak for themselves. Raising awareness about the rights of children and the promotion of children's rights is a challenge to media. Media must not just report fairly, honestly and accurately on the experience of childhood, but they must also provide space for the diverse, colourful and creative opinions of children themselves. Whether it is news and current affairs, or the complex world of creative and performing arts, all media professionals, and the organisations for which they work, have a responsibility to recognise children's rights and reflect them in their work..." - from the Introduction.

This publication includes a number of recommendations to help make media and journalists become more responsive and improve their coverage. It also aims to help journalists learn and identify good practices and high standards.