The News Coverage on Children and the Ethics: A Study on the Contents of 10 Newspapers of Bangladesh SUBMITTED TO Dr. Md. Golam Rahman Professor, Journalism and Mass Communication Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science Pro-Vice Chancellor, Daffodil International University (DIU) SUBMITTED BY M. Didarul Karim Sikder ID: 141-28-173 Department of Journalism and Mass Communication Daffodil International University (DIU) DATE OF SUBMISSION June 20, 2015 Letter of Approval June 20, 2015 Dr. Md. Golam Rahman Professor, Journalism and Mass Communication Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science Pro-Vice Chancellor, Daffodil International University (DIU) Application for thesis submission approval Dear Sir, I am conducting a thesis entitled ‘The Coverage on Children and the Ethics: a study on the contents of 10 newspapers of Bangladesh’ as a course requirement in my post-graduation. I tried my level best to work sincerely to cover all aspects regarding the matter which I have been assigned. I believe that this thesis program has enriched both my knowledge and experience. I hope you will assess my report considering the limitations of the study. I shall be highly grateful if you kindly accept my thesis. Your kind approval is solicited. Sincerely yours, M. Didarul Karim Sikder ID: 141-28-173 Department of Journalism and Mass Communication Daffodil International University (DIU) © Daffodil International University | Page I ACKNOWLEDGEMENT At this stage I would like to thank many people for their co-operation, understanding and support; without their assistance this work would not have been possible to complete. Firstly, the accomplishment of this thesis has been possible with the kind help and direction of my respected supervisor Professor Md. Golam Rahman, PhD. Professor Rahman has always been supportive and willing to help me solve the problems that I encountered all through the way. His understanding was extraordinary. Without his encouragement, I could have not finished this final work in my masters’ study. I wholeheartedly appreciate the support and understanding I have received from other people. For technical support I would especially thankful and express my gratitude to Piyas Roy, Rubina Parvin, Aftab Ahmed, Naim and Yemad Ahmed for their support upon providing information and feedback on my work. © Daffodil International University | Page II DEDICATION To my parents © Daffodil International University | Page III CERTIFICATION This is to certify that Mr. M. Didarul Karim Sikder, ID: 141-28-173 has done his Master’s thesis entitled, ‘The Coverage on Children and the Ethics: a study on the contents of 10 newspapers of Bangladesh’ under my supervision and guidance. The study has been undertaken as a part of requirements of Masters of Social Science (MSS) Degree in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC). The thesis is expected to contribute in the field of journalism and mass communication as well as newspaper industry about the ethical standpoint and importance of covering news on children. ……………………………… Dr. Md. Golam Rahman Professor, Journalism and Mass Communication Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science Pro-Vice Chancellor, Daffodil International University (DIU) © Daffodil International University | Page IV ABSTRACT This is a study on analysis of 10 leading newspapers of Bangladesh on their role in covering news on children following ethical guideline set by UNICEF, as well as tendency of priority imposing on such topics. The researcher has chosen Daily Prothom Alo, Daily Jugantor, Daily Kaler Kantho, Daily Samakal, Daily Ittefaq, Daily Naya Diganta, Daily Sun, Daily Star, Daily Independent, Daily New Age based on their circulation and analyzed them within the timeframe starting from April 01, 2015 to April 07, 2015. The research has been done in quantitative method to find the frequency and publishing priority of children news in those newspapers. Within the timeframe no unethical news has been published in any of those newspapers. But the differences found in the numbers of news published and treatment given by different newspapers. © Daffodil International University | Page V TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction 01 1.1 Operational Definition 02 1.1.1 Children 02 1.1.2 Ethics 02 1.2 Background 03 1.2.1 Treatment of Children in Bangladesh 03 1.2.2 Need for ethical reporting about children 04 Chapter 2 Literature Review 06 2.1 Research Objectives 08 2.2 Scope and Significance of the Study 08 2.3 Research Question 09 2.4 Limitations of the Study 10 Chapter 3 Research Methodology 11 Chapter 4 Findings 12 Chapter 5 Analysis and Discussion 47 5.1 Analysis 47 5.2 Discussion 60 Chapter 6 Conclusion and Recommendation 64 6.1 Conclusion 64 6.2 Recommendation 64 Bibliography 66 Appendices 67 LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1 Content Analysis of coverage of children in the content of UNICEF’s Ethical 12 Guideline by Daily Prothom Alo Table 1.2 Summary of coverage in Daily Prothom Alo 15 Table 2.1 Content Analysis of coverage of children in the content of UNICEF’s Ethical 16 Guideline by Daily Jugantor Table 2.2 Summary of coverage in Daily Jugantor 19 Table 3.1 Content Analysis of coverage of children in the content of UNICEF’s Ethical 20 Guideline by Daily Ittefaq Table 3.2 Summary of coverage in Daily Ittefaq 23 Table 4.1 Content Analysis of coverage of children in the content of UNICEF’s Ethical 24 Guideline by Daily Naya Diganta Table 4.2 Summary of coverage in Daily Naya Diganta 25 Table 5.1 Content Analysis of coverage of children in the content of UNICEF’s Ethical 26 Guideline by Daily Kaler Kantho Table 5.2 Summary of coverage in Daily Kaler Kantho 29 Table 6.1 Content Analysis of coverage of children in the content of UNICEF’s Ethical 30 Guideline by Daily Samakal Table 6.2 Summary of coverage in Daily Samakal 32 Table 7.1 Content Analysis of coverage of children in the content of UNICEF’s Ethical 33 Guideline by Daily Star Table 7.2 Summary of coverage in Daily Star 36 Table 8.1 Content Analysis of coverage of children in the content of UNICEF’s Ethical 37 Guideline by Daily New Age Table 8.2 Summary of coverage in Daily New Age 38 Table 9.1 Content Analysis of coverage of children in the content of UNICEF’s Ethical 39 Guideline by Daily Independent Table 9.2 Summary of coverage in Daily Independent 41 Table 10.1 Content Analysis of coverage of children in the content of UNICEF’s Ethical 42 Guideline by Daily Sun Table 10.2 Summary of coverage in Daily Sun 44 Table 11 Comparative presentation of children coverage by 10 different newspapers 45 Table 12 Comparative presentation of children coverage in the basis of space acquired 46 (in column-inches) by 10 newspapers Table 13 Number and Percentage distribution of Children news by Daily Prothom Alo 47 Table 14 Number and Percentage distribution of Children news by Daily Jugantor 48 Table 15 Number and Percentage distribution of Children news by Daily Ittefaq 49 Table 16 Number and Percentage distribution of Children news by Daily Naya Diganta 50 Table 17 Number and Percentage distribution of Children news by Daily Kaler Kantho 51 Table 18 Number and Percentage distribution of Children news by Daily Samakal 52 Table 19 Number and Percentage distribution of Children news by Daily Star 53 Table 20 Number and Percentage distribution of Children news by Daily New Age 54 Table 21 Number and Percentage distribution of Children news by Daily Independent 55 Table 22 Number and Percentage distribution of children news by Daily Sun 56 Table 23 Coverage Percentage of children news in 10 different Daily Newspapers 57 LIST OF GRAPHS Graph 1 Percentage distribution of Children Coverage by Daily Prothom Alo 47 Graph 2 Percentage distribution of Children Coverage by Daily Jugantor 48 Graph 3 Percentage distribution of Children Coverage by Daily Ittefaq 49 Graph 4 Percentage distribution of Children Coverage by Daily Naya Diganta 50 Graph 5 Percentage distribution of Children Coverage by Daily Kaler Kantho 51 Graph 6 Percentage distribution of Children Coverage by Daily Samakal 52 Graph 7 Percentage distribution of Children Coverage by Daily Star 53 Graph 8 Percentage distribution of Children Coverage by Daily New Age 54 Graph 9 Percentage distribution of Children Coverage by Daily Independent 55 Graph 10 Percentage distribution of Children Coverage by Daily Sun 56 Graph 11 Coverage Percentage of children news in 10 different Daily 58 Newspapers Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Negative representations of issues and events in media may affect the behavior and attitude of children (Gail Rule, Ferguson, 2010: 29–50). In the history of Bangladeshi media the representation of children as a content of news has always been questioned due to the lack of awareness of the reporters regarding the ethical representation. Whereas in some other cases children news does not receive adequate coverage as it should be. Both the issues have always been a question about the professionalism of the news agencies, newspapers or news personnel. Many news stories and images present the violence perpetrated on children and by the children at length. Children are also presented as perpetrators of crimes. Such presentation may deter sympathy for children, as it not only presents them as victims, but also as perpetrators of the crimes reported. Though the scenario regarding the ethical standpoint has got a huge change now a day by the increasing awareness of the newsroom professionals, negligence of news regarding children news still hammering the news industry in Bangladesh. How much importance or prominent coverage should be given to news regarding any children issue, has yet to be solved. So as long as the ethical news presentation and the coverage news on children is an important issue to look at due to the current situation of Bangladeshi news media industry.