Children in the News: Journalism and the Rights of the Child
FJA series of webinars “Winning Stories”
Read the full transcript ►
https://fjawards.com/webinar-transcription-children-in-the-news
Additional materials:
Video by Hannah Dreier (New York Times) ►
https://www.nytimes.com/video/admin/100000009225687/child-roofers.html
Children First (Guideline by TinyHand and ICFJ) ►
https://tinyhand.net/children-first-guideline/
"What's up" Singapore newspaper for students ►
FJA award winners, since our launch five years ago, have produced fearless reporting of abuse and exploitation of children, and supporting change that has helped change the lives of millions of children.
In 2024 the winning stories had dramatic impact. One forced the world’s most powerful governments to change course. Another highlighted young girls in the shadow of conflict are pushed to join the adult world too quickly. In 2020, another winner exposed the whitewashing of the horrors of child labour.
In this webinar our winners talk about their stories and the challenges they faced working with young and vulnerable people. Other panelists look at previous examples of winning journalism, covering issues such as child labour. All of our experts give tips for quality journalism in reporting the rights of children.
Moderator: Aidan White, President of the Ethical Journalism Network and Honorary Advisor for the Fetisov Journalism Awards
Send questions in advance via info@fjawards.com (subject: webinar).
Speakers:
Hannah Dreier (USA)
Hannah Dreier is an investigative reporter for The New York Times. Before joining The Times in 2022, she wrote about immigration policy, federal disaster aid and police reform at The Washington Post. She previously worked at ProPublica and was a correspondent for The Associated Press in Venezuela. Hannah Dreier was a Pulitzer Prize Winner in 2019 and 2023.
Hadeel Arja (Turkey)
Hadeel Arja is the founder of Tinyhand, the winner of the Google News Initiative 2021. She serves as the lead editor of Frontline in Focus, which is also a recipient of the Google News Initiative 2021. With over 17 years of experience, Hadeel has worked for prominent publications, including Huffington Post Arabic, Alhayat, Alsharq Alawsat. Samir Kassir Award 2024 Winner.
Bhavya Dore (India)
Bhavya Dore is a Mumbai-based freelance journalist. Her work has appeared in the BBC, The Guardian, Undark, Caravan, Narratively and other international publications.
Cherian George (Hong Kong)
Cherian George is the editor and publisher of What’s Up, a Singapore newspaper for schoolchildren mostly aged 10-12. He is professor of media studies at Hong Kong Baptist University’s School of Communication. He researches media freedom, censorship and hate propaganda. He was the founding head of the Singapore-based Asia Journalism Fellowship sabbatical programme for mid-career professionals.
Nadia Azhgikhina
Co-Chair of FJA Steering Committee, Director of PEN Moscow, Former Vice-President of the European Federation of Journalists
Aidan White
President of the Ethical Journalism Network and Honorary Adviser for the Fetisov Journalism Awards
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During the webinar we will develop some ethical sub-topics that flow from the main discussion:
Sources of information:
The first and most important issue is to get the story right. Fact-based information from reliable sources is essential in all journalism, but particularly so when reporting children. Where do we go to get reliable background on child rights – at national and international level? And how do we test the truthfulness of what we are being told?
Interviewing skills:
Journalists have a duty of care to children. They must interview them in safe and secure conditions. They must not add to the ordeal of young people who have suffered trauma. How do we ask the right questions? How do we create a safe environment?
Safeguarding children:
Humanity is paramount. We need to ensure that everything we do minimises harm and creates security for children in our stories. We need to ensure they feel safe; often that will require the presence of a responsible adult to reassure them. When we leave the scene, me must consider what happens now? Will the children be safe? Have we done enough to help? What more can we do?
Giving voice to children:
Children have agency. They can speak for themselves. Too often adults – aid agencies, community representatives, for example – will want to speak on their behalf. That can be useful, but the authentic voice of the child is an essential part of the story. We have a duty to listen to them.
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For decades the issue of reporting children has been on the media agenda. Over the years guidelines and advice have been given to journalists and news media on how to report with care and sensitivity on the often troubled lives of the most vulnerable members of our community.
Below we set out guidelines, produced by journalists themselves 26 years ago. It is a useful briefing note on what we expect of good journalism. Our webinar will examine how journalists are meeting the ethical tests set out here.
The FJA webinar will give fresh insights, through detailed examination of some recent examples of world-class journalism, showing how reporters and editors can deliver ethical and quality journalism that respects the rights of children. After the webinar we will publish and circulate a detailed report of the outcomes. We hope it will strengthen the FJA mission in support of journalism that will make the world a better place.
The following guidelines were developed by the International Federation of Journalists in association with UNICEF (the United Nations Children Fund) and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Guidelines and Principles for Reporting on Issues Involving Children
All journalists and media professionals have duties to maintain the highest ethical and professional standards and should promote within the industry the widest possible dissemination of information about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
This is to ensure that the news operation goes smoothly. Media organisations should regard the violation of the rights of children and issues related to children’s safety, privacy, security, education, health and social welfare and all forms of exploitation as important questions for investigation.
Children have an absolute right to privacy, the only exceptions being those explicitly set out in these guidelines. Journalistic activity which touches on the lives and welfare of children should always be carried out carefully and should be taken into account that children are not in a position to help themselves.
When reporting on children, journalists and media organisations shall strive to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct as follows:
- Strive for standards of excellence in terms of accuracy and sensitivity when reporting on children and do so with an understanding of the national and international rules on the rights of the child.
- Avoid reporting and publication of images that may adversely affect children, as well as information that may be damaging to them.
- Avoid the use of stereotypes and sensational presentations to promote journalistic material involving children.
- Consider carefully the consequences of publication of any material concerning children particularly on social media and at all times seek to minimise harm to children.
- Do not post pictures or information that would reveal the identity of children unless it is demonstrably in the public interest.
- If possible, give children the right of access to media to express their own opinions without the inducement of any kind.
- Ensure independent verification of information provided by children and take special care to ensure that verification takes place without putting child informants at risk.
- Avoid the use of sexualised images of children.
- Use fair, open and straightforward methods for obtaining pictures and, where possible, obtain them with the knowledge and consent of children or a responsible adult, guardian or carer.
- Always strive to interview children in the presence of a responsible adult and in an environment that is safe and secure.
- Verify the credentials of any organisation purporting to speak for or to represent the interests of children.
- Do not make payment to children for material involving the welfare of children or to parents or guardians of children unless it is demonstrably in the interest of the child.
Journalists should put to critical examination the reports submitted and the claims made by governments on the implementation of the UNCRC in their respective countries.
Launched at the World Congress of the IFJ held in Recife, Brazil on May 2, 1998