Reporting on children has its special challenges. In some instances, the act of reporting on children places them or other children at risk of retribution or stigmatization.
Principles
The dignity and rights of every child are to be respected in every circumstance.
In interviewing and reporting on children, special attention is to be paid to each child's right to privacy and confidentiality, to have their opinions heard, to participate in decisions affecting them and to be protected from harm and retribution, including the potential of harm and retribution.
The best interests of each child are to be protected over any other consideration, including over advocacy for children's issues and the promotion of child rights.
When trying to determine the best interests of a child, the child's right to have their views taken into account are to be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity.
Those closest to the child's situation and best able to assess it are to be consulted about the political, social and cultural ramifications of any reportage.
Do not publish a story or an image which might put the child, siblings or peers at risk even when identities are changed, obscured or not used.
Guidelines for reporting on children
Do not further stigmatize any child; avoid categorisations or descriptions that expose a child to negative reprisals - including additional physical or psychological harm, or to lifelong abuse, discrimination or rejection by their local communities.
Always provide an accurate context for the child's story or image.
Always change the name and obscure the visual identity of any child who is identified as:
a. A victim of sexual abuse or exploitation,
b. A perpetrator of physical or sexual abuse,
d. Charged or convicted of a crime.
In certain cases, using a child's identity - their name and/or recognizable image - is in the child's best interests. However, when the child's identity is used, they must still be protected against harm and supported through any stigmatization or reprisals. Some examples of these special cases are:
a. When a child initiates contact with the reporter, wanting to exercise their right to freedom of expression and their right to have their opinion heard.
b. When a child is part of a sustained programme of activism or social mobilization and wants to be so identified.
c. When a child is engaged in a psychosocial programme and claiming their name and identity is part of their healthy development.
Confirm the accuracy of what the child has to say, either with other children or an adult, preferably with both.
When in doubt about whether a child is at risk, report on the general situation for children rather than on an individual child, no matter how newsworthy the story.
Guidelines for interviewing children:
Respect right to privacy and confidentiality
Give opportunity to have them heard
No discrimination in choosing children for interviewing
Obtain permission from children or guardians for interview or photography
Be careful how and where a child is interviewed.
Great care to exercise in interviewing children on tragic or harrowing
Media's watchdog role
Journalists may question the claims and critically analyze the reports, both by the government and the NGOs, submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Legal provisions
Constitution provides respect for every human being including children
JJSO, 2000 under its section 8 prohibits stigmatization of children. It reads as, “Unless the Juvenile Court specifically authorizes, the Court proceedings shall not be published in any newspaper, magazines or journal in any form which may disclose the name, address, school - - - - “.
JJS Rules 2001, section 20 prohibits stigmatization. It reads, “”No juvenile shall be stigmatized in any of the manner relating to arrest, inquiry, Court proceedings, prosecution, probation and conviction unless specifically authorized by the (juvenile) court”.
