Media Ethics and the Protection of Children's

MEDIA ETHICS AND THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA Guidelines and code of conduct

Save the Children and the University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina,” Journalism Department MEDIA ETHICS AND THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA

INTRODUCTION when they are involved in news stories. This means responsibility of the media in the im- This is an updated document, based on a plementation of Code of Ethics and media series of training courses and workshops, monitoring on a daily basis. on the portrayal of children in the media in Kosovo. The sessions have been carried out for Save the Children and the Univer- PORTRAYAL OF sity of Pristina, Journalism Department, by CHILDREN IN THE the journalist and media consultant, David MEDIA Hayward. Article 1 of the UNCRC states: A child This latest edition has been written with the means every human being below the age support of Save the Children and the Jour- of eighteen years unless under the law ap- nalism Department, of the University of Pr- plicable to the child, majority is attained earlier. ishtina, “Hasan Prishtina.”

The code of conduct is based on discussions The depiction of children in the media can with journalists, representatives from the often be misleading. Children are too often Kosovo Independent Media Commission, shown in negative stereotypes as; monitoring organizations, NGO media pro- • Victims fessionals, journalism students and university • Starving children professors, both private and public. • Troublemakers • Irresponsible teenagers The aim of the code of conduct is to cre- • Little mischiefs ate an accessible guide (online and booklet) on the responsible involvement of children Children should be portrayed in a way that in the media. It draws on the United Na- does not impede their rights; they should be tions Convention on the Rights of the Child seen as individuals. (UNCRC), the Kosovo Independent Media Commission code of conduct and the BBC editorial guidelines. REPORTING ON CHILDREN FROM ETHNIC MINORITY RESPONSIBLE GROUPS AND REPORTING OF COMMUNITIES CHILDREN IN THE MEDIA Children should not be portrayed in a negative light because of their race, religion or It is the duty of the media and journalists community. They should not face discrimi- in Kosovo to carry out responsible report- nation in the media or be treated differently ing of children and vulnerable young people due to their ethnic background. Care should

2 Guidelines and code of conduct be taken to ensure the minority groups such REPORTING ON as the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian commu- CHILDREN IN nities are not victimized. When reporting on POVERTY ethnic minority groups, children who can be easily identified, should not be used to de- Children should not be portrayed as victims pict the community as a whole. of poverty. They need to be protected from future discrimination and harm. The media The image of disheveled children and young should not use them, to illustrate poor and people can lead to a reinforcement of harm- disadvantaged stereotypes. For example, ful preconceptions. In contrast children from it is all too easy, to use starving children as ethnic minority backgrounds should be the most powerful image to depict famine. championed for what they can do. For in- However, this dehumanizes them. If report- stance in achieving high standards in school, ers do use these images, there needs to be education or in the sporting and artistic context. Where appropriate, they should be fields. treated as an individual, not an object to gain emotional impact. As with all children, they need to be treated as individuals and people in their own right. A good example on this is the BBC docu- mentary, Ebola Frontline, on the treatment of children with Ebola in West Africa. The REPORTING ON children in the film are handled with sensitiv- CHILDREN WITH ity and dignity. They are a central part of the DISABILITIES story and their position is put into a global context. Children with disabilities should be treated with respect and not have their human rights https://www.youtube.com/ abused. Special consideration needs to be watch?v=FikEo54vj-o given to the use of language and the way children and young people with disabilities On the other hand, there are many cases are portrayed in the media. where children’s rights are not respected and they are portrayed negatively. Such are All children have the same human rights, the examples, given below: for example, children are should not be de- scribed as mentally ill. The correct terms is; they have learning difficulties or mental health issues. Children who use wheelchairs are not wheelchair bound they are wheelchair users. When reporting, the most important thing to consider is “Am I treating this child with the dignity he/she deserves?”

3 MEDIA ETHICS AND THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA

CHILDREN journalists and the media must have their IN ELECTION permission and consent of their parents or CAMPAIGNS guardians. Parents and guardians need to be fully and fairly informed about the potential Children should not be exploited during po- risk and consequences to children before litical election campaigns. They should be agreeing to give permission. This is known treated with respect and allowed to maintain as informed consent. their right of privacy. There is a long tradi- tion of politicians using children to improve For more information click on the link to see their image during election campaigns. Photo various forms of consent and guidance: calls of politicians holding babies are often appealing. However, cases that use children http://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/ to attract publicity and win more votes (by page/guidance-consent-how#Use of Stan- pulling children out of school, using them dard Contributor Consent Form for publicity stunts, etc) or used as a negative tool to attack opponents. These actions Children should not be submitted to expo- should be censured. sure of a negative nature in the media. This includes the exposure to media and videos The example of Jennifer’s Ear, during the that already exist on social media. It is the 1992 general election in the UK, is a very duty of all news agencies/organisations to good illustration of how the rights of the ensure the rights of privacy to the child, in child can be seriously damaged by political order to not harm children as a result of in-fighting. their exposure on media.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_ Jennifer%27s_Ear PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM Overall, it is the journalists’ role also to pro- HARMFUL CONTENT tect children during election campaigns by adhering to the codes of conduct, by re- Children should not be exposed to harmful specting child rights as per the convention, on-screen content. They must be protected and calling upon the misuses and pointing from images that could have a lasting and out irregularities. detrimental impact on them. This includes images of violence and of a sexual nature, explicit pornography and extreme language. PROTECTION OF Action must be taken to warn children and THE CHILD AND THE adults of harmful content and for it to be RIGHT TO PRIVACY shown at appropriate times.

Children have a right to protection and pri- News and current affairs programmes vacy. When involving children in stories, should warn viewers about news reports

4 Guidelines and code of conduct

containing violent or disturbing images, Article 17 of the UNCRC (Access to infor- which could have a negative impact on chil- mation; mass media) dren and young people’s wellbeing. Special Children have the right to get information that is important to their health and care should be taken when reporting on vio- well-being. Governments should encourage lent crimes, war zones, disaster areas, death, mass media – radio, television, newspapers rape, murder and disease. The global cov- and Internet content sources – to provide erage of the Ebola crisis, has shown some information that children can understand very disturbing and powerful images. It is and to not promote materials that could important these pictures are used with care harm children. Mass media should particularly be encouraged to supply information and due warning is given. in languages that minority and indigenous children can understand. Children should Warnings should be given ahead of news also have access to children’s books. reports and current affairs programmes in which flash photography appears. Flash photography can lead to serious problems for SEXUALISATION OF people with certain medical conditions. The CHILDREN warning should be worded as follows: “The following programme contains flash Children must not be exposed to sexuali- photography and flashing images.” sation. The dress code of presenters when working with children needs to be appropriate and should not expose children to PROTECTING over-sexualised clothing. Children should CHILDREN FROM be protected from viewing explicit material, HARMFUL CONTENT whether it is in music videos, television pro- ON DIGITAL AND grams or movies. SOCIAL MEDIA Children should not be portrayed as sexual Due care needs to be given to protect chil- objects. Special care needs to be taken to dren and young people from harmful content their dress code and imitation of sexual be- on digital and social media. Platforms should havior in the media. have measures in place, to report and take down offensive material, which could have a Children should not be used as décor. Their negative impact on the lives of children and presence at a program has to be meaningful. young people. Parents should be educated They should be contributors to the content. by the media to take responsibility for their children and their accounts in social media. Parents and guardians of children need to GIVING CHILDREN A understand the impact their actions can have VOICE on the lives of their children. Children have the right for their voice to be heard. Their right to participate in the media is central to the UNCRC. 5 MEDIA ETHICS AND THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA

In news stories, where appropriate and with- media to ensure the child has access to in- in the law, they should be allowed to express formation and material aimed at promoting their own views and opinions. their social, spiritual and moral well-being. Importance should also be given to internet “Time and again, experience shows that media exposure. News portals should show children – even very young children – giv- diligence and responsibility to moderate en the time and opportunity, demonstrate comments of the audience in order to main- not only that they have views, experiences tain high standards. and perspectives to express, but that their expression can contribute positively to de- cisions that affect the realisation of their EDUCATING SOCIETY rights and wellbeing.” “Every Child’s Right to ABOUT THE RIGHTS be Heard,” UNICEF - a resource guide on OF CHILDREN the UN committee on the rights of the child general comment no.12 The media has an important role to play in protecting and promoting the rights of the Article 13 of the UNCRC (Freedom of child. There is a duty to educate and inform expression): wider society on the issues effecting children. Children have the right to get and share Parents and the general public needs to be information, as long as the information is informed about the impact of their actions not damaging to them or others. In exer- on children. This is particularly important in cising the right to freedom of expression, the area of social and digital media. Parents children have the responsibility to also respect the rights, freedoms and reputations and guardians should understand the effect of others. The freedom of expression pictures and images of children can have on includes the right to share information in their future development and rights to pri- any way they choose, including by talking, vacy. drawing or writing. The Kosovo Independent Media Commis- sion and the Press Release Body offer sup- ACCESS TO THE port, guidance and can address complaints MEDIA, INCLUDING about media coverage of children. DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA The general public should be informed about the measures that need to be taken in order Children must be allowed access to the me- to protect children from unsuitable content dia, including digital and social media. The on digital and social media. They should en- relationship between the child and media is sure that children only have access to age an entry point to the world of children and appropriate websites and social media net- their rights to education, freedom of expres- works/ platforms and TV. sion, identity, health, dignity and protection. There is an important function of the mass

6 Guidelines and code of conduct

TV stations should also ensure that a mate- There are many examples of when the rights rial that is deemed inappropriate for trans- of the child are seriously damaged, by jour- mission before watershed is not transmitted nalists and the media as a whole chasing next day before watershed. them to get an interview. In October 2013 huge scrutiny was placed on a young blonde “The 9pm watershed signals the beginning girl, named Maria, who was living with a of the transition to more adult materi- Roma family in Greece. This story illustrates al, but the change should not be abrupt. the pressure and preconceptions that can do Programme makers and schedulers should so much hard to the child at the centre of it. also take into account the nature of the http://www.theguardian.com/com- channel and viewer expectations. The strongest material should appear later in mentisfree/2013/oct/22/angel-kid- the schedule.” napped-by-gypsies-libel-replayed http://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/page/guidelines-harm-watershed STORYTELLING

INTERVIEWING An essential element of all of the above CHILDREN points is the need to tell stories in a powerful, engaging and compelling way. For the Special care needs to be taken when inter- media and journalists to effectively apply the viewing children in the media. They should guide and code of conduct, excellent story- not be interviewed in affect or door- telling must be a central part of every report. stepped. They should be informed and fully prepared, before taking part in an interview There are several very good examples of and told exactly how that interview and their both good and bad storytelling in the BBC appearance will be used. Permission to inter- College of Journalism sections view children should always be sought from their parents or guardians. Reporting on Children

The journalist should do their best to put http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/jour- children at ease ahead of any interview or nalism/article/art20140428142034522 filming. Spend time talking to them in ad- vance, explain what you are doing and why. and Getting the most from the children in All of this will ensure a far better interview. your reports

Always appreciate that at any time, children http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/jour- do have the right not to answer questions nalism/article/art20140522115128283 or be interviewed, even if their parents have given written consent.

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FURTHER APPENDIX INFORMATION AND READING United Nations Convention of the rights of the child This code of conduct is designed to intro- http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sites/ duce the media, journalists and anyone in- default/files/docs/Know_Your_Rights_ volved in the portrayal of children, with a poster_4.pdf guide to responsible reporting. There is a great deal of further reading and informa- Kosovo Independent Media Commission tion below. The United Nations Convention guidelines on the rights of the child and the Kosovo http://kpm-ks.org/?faqe=271&gjuha=3 Independent Media Commission guidelines, offer excellent detail about how to deal with BBC Editorial Guidelines children in the media. http://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/ page/guidelines-children-introduction/ There is first class advice on verification and protection of social and digital media in the Verification Handbook verification handbook and detailed help in http://verificationhandbook.com/ reporting on children on the BBC College of Journalism website. All of the material listed BBC College of Journalism will help journalists and the media cover stories about children and child issues in a far Reporting on Children more effective and attractive manner. http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/journalism/article/art20140428142034522

Getting the most from children in your reports http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/journalism/article/art20140522115128283

Reporting Cases of Abuse http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/journalism/article/art20140610145725989

8 Guidelines and code of conduct

9 MEDIA ETHICS AND THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA