Journalists drilled on child-safe reporting
Staff Writer | Monday March 24, 2025 15:11
Delivering his remarks on the global and regional perspective on the role of the media in reporting children’s issues, UNICEF Botswana Deputy Representative, Dr Kimanzi Muthengi said they are a UN-mandated organisation that works with children. Muthengi said the media holds an influence to pressurise lawmakers to make child-friendly policies. “This training is an opportunity to reflect on how journalists can report on children without causing harm,” he said. According to Muthengi, there are many challenges that the media faces in reporting children’s issues, some of them being a lack of access to information. He added that for cases that involve abuse of children and judicial cases, there should be respect for the right to privacy.
He stated that above this, journalists should obtain informed consent when covering children’s stories, for instance, interviews and photographs and that the media should not hurt and/or avoid reporting that could result in any harm to children. However, he stated that the training will explore practical solutions to these barriers. He noted the need to prioritise children’s best interests. Additionally, he rallied the media to empower children's voices. To this end, journalists were capacitated on ethical reporting on children's rights, utilising data/research to tell children's stories and how the media could serve to bridge the gap in advancing child-like narratives, which are often neglected/ignored. Sharing similar sentiments, the head of policy and programmes at the British High Commission, Bakang Ntshingane, stated that they have collaborated with UNICEF to advance the child agenda post-COVID-19 pandemic. Ntshingane said COVID-19 brought the sad realities of children globally. “Violation of children’s rights occur around the world,” he said.
For her part, MISA Botswana vice chairperson, Tshireletso Stoffel, said all hands should be on deck to highlight child-safe reporting, which is sensitive and requires due diligence. Stoffel expressed that children depend on the community to unleash their potential. She called on journalists to be vigilant when dealing with children. Similarly, media consultant, Joel Konopo, called on newsrooms to establish desks for reporting on children. He said it was time they were recognised and given priority in media lawmaking. “We do not have laws that govern the media in this country generally. So, we hope the Access to Information Act will solidify the media’s need to report responsibly on children,” said Konopo. Konopo also complained about institutions' refusal to share information with the media. He said this hinders journalistic work hence its limited role. He stressed that the biggest challenge is a lack of desks in newsrooms. Furthermore, he implored MISA to create awards that will encourage safe reporting on children.