Putting Children

in the Right

Building Capacity for Belizean Journalists

Nov. 21, 2011

International Standards

Holly Edgell

“

UNICEF Belize & The University of the West Indies Open Campus, Belize

What do we mean by “Standards?”

something considered by an authority or by general consent as a basis of comparison; an approved model

rules or principles used as a basis for judgment

those morals, ethics, habits, etc., established by authority, custom, or an individual as acceptable

Who decides on standards?

Individuals

Society

Profession

Peers

Opinion leaders

Professional v. Official Standards

Journalists may decide have share a consensus on standards of professional practice of news coverage

Governments usually apply official regulations to ensure standards for BROADCASTERS.

Because the airwaves are “public”

Government grants broadcast licenses and has a stake in protecting and guaranteeing the public’s rights and interests

Journalistic Standards

Often closely tied to ETHICS

Usually a matter of self-regulation

Hard to enforce

Case by case?

Evolving with technology?

“Problem” PeopleA 1994 study by researchers from Stanford University found

:

Children are largely portrayed in the news as "problem people" - people who either cause problems or have problems - concludes a new analysis of the content of child-related newspaper and television news programs.

Stories about crime and violence were found to make up 40 percent of the child-related coverage across various newspaper and television formats….

“Problem” People

Stanford study found:

International Federation of Journalists

Adopted formal guidelines for news coverage of children in 2001 (2nd World Congress against Commercial Exploitation of Children held at Yokohama, Japan)

Based on of codes of conduct and standards already in use across the world.

Preamble (excerpt)

“To do their job of informing the public effectively, journalists must be fully aware of the need to protect children and to enhance their rights without in any way damaging freedom of expression or interfering with the fabric of journalistic independence. Journalists must also be provided with training to achieve high ethical standards.”

International Federation of Journalists

Guidelines and Principles for Reporting on Issues Involving Children

International Federation of Journalists

Guidelines and Principles for Reporting on Issues Involving Children

International Federation of Journalists

Guidelines and Principles for Reporting on Issues Involving Children

International Federation of Journalists

Guidelines and Principles for Reporting on Issues Involving Children

International Federationof Journalists

Guidelines and Principles for Reporting on Issues Involving Children

“Media should not consider and report the conditions of children only as events but should continuously report the process likely to lead or leading to the occurrence of these events.”

Jamaica

A Code of Practice (first draft 2005, revised 2010)

Developed by the Media Association of Jamaica & the Press Association of Jamaica

Defines the role of the press

Includes 15 provisions

Including TWO related specifically to children

Jamaica: Code of Practice

“Declaration” includes STANDARDS of professional practice

Specifically includes EDITORS, JOURNALISTS, PUBLISHERS AND BROADCASTERS

Provides for recourse to a MEDIA COMPLAINTS COUNCIL

Jamaica: Code of Practice

Standards

EDITORS, JOURNALISTS, PUBLISHERS AND BROADCASTERS pledge to:

prevent violations of the standards

ensure that the Code is observed rigorously by all their contributors

agree to cooperate as swiftly as possible with media complaints bodies, where they exist, in the resolution of complaints.

Jamaica: Code of Practice

Fifteen provisions – TWO about children

4) Journalists shall not:

a. Interview or photograph children under the age of 18 on a subject involving the personal welfare of the child, in the absence of and without the consent of a parent or other adult who is responsible for the

b.Report on the private life of a child based solely on the family‟s notoriety or the status of the child‟s parents or guardians.

c.Approach, photograph or interview children at school without the permission of the school authorities.

d. Photograph or interview children at crime scenes or at protest demonstrations unless due care is taken to avoid any exploitation of the children.

Jamaica: Code of Practice

Fifteen provisions – TWO about children

5) CHILDREN IN CRIMINAL CASES

a. The Press should not identify children under the age of 18 who are involved in cases concerning sexual offences, whether as victims or as witnesses or defendants n a trial.

Jamaica: Code of Practice

Fifteen provisions – TWO about children

5) CHILDREN IN CRIMINAL CASES

b.In any news report of a case involving a sexual offence by an adult against a child:

i.The child should not be identified.

ii.The adult may be identified if such identification would not cause the identity of the child to be revealed.

Jamaica: Code of Practice

Fifteen provisions – TWO about children

5) CHILDREN IN CRIMINAL CASES

b. In any news report of a case involving a sexual offence by an adult against a child

iii. In cases of incest, for the purposes of the protection of the identification the child, the term “incest,” should never be used.

• 1. The offence of incest should be described as "serious offences against a young child", “sexual assault of a child” or similar appropriate wording.

• 2. Care should be taken that nothing in the report implies the family relationship between the accused and the child.

Jamaica: Code of Practice

Fifteen provisions – TWO about children

5) CHILDREN IN CRIMINAL CASES

b. In any news report of a case involving a sexual offence by an adult against a child

iv. Children who are victims or witnesses to violent crime should not be interviewed about what they experienced or saw unless it is clearly in the public interest and only with the consent and in the presence of an adult.

South Africa

South African Press Code

Press Council of South Africa

Few specifics about children & youth

1.7.2 Child pornography shall not be published.1.8 The identity of rape victims and victims of sexual violence shall not be published without the consent of the victim.

1.9 News obtained by dishonest or unfair means, or the publication of which would involve a breach of confidence, should not be published unless a legitimate public interest dictates otherwise.

1.10 In both news and comment the press shall exercise exceptional care and consideration in matters involving the private lives and concerns of individuals, bearing in mind that any right to privacy may be overridden only by a legitimate public interest.

South Africa

The Independent Communications Authority of SA's Code of Conduct for Broadcasters

Defines children as “persons below 16”

Mainly specifies rules for non-journalistic programming

Provides for a “watershed” period, between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Restrictions on programming with “violence, sexually explicit conduct and/or offensive language intended for adults”

Parental advisories

South Africa

The Independent Communications Authority of SA's Code of Conduct for Broadcasters

Children “embraces a wide range of maturity and sophistication, and in interpreting this Code it is legitimate for licensees to distinguish, if appropriate those approaching adulthood from a much younger, pre-teenage audience.”

South Africa

The Independent Communications Authority of SA's Code of Conduct for Broadcasters

Broadcasters shall not broadcast material unsuitable for children at times when large numbers of children may be expected to be part of the audience.

Broadcasters shall exercise particular caution in the depiction of violence in children's programming

In children's programming portrayed by real-life characters, violence shall, whether physical, verbal or emotional, only be portrayed when it is essential to the development of a character and plot.

South Africa

The Independent Communications Authority of SA's Code of Conduct for Broadcasters

Animated programming for children…shall not have violence as its central theme, and shall not invite dangerous imitation.

Programming for children shall with due care deal with themes which could threaten their sense of security, when portraying, for example, domestic conflict, death, crime or the use of drugs.

Programming for children shall with due care deal with themes which could invite children to imitate acts which they see on screen or hear about, such as the use of plastic bags as toys, use of matches, the use of dangerous household products as playthings, or other dangerous physical acts.

South Africa

The Independent Communications Authority of SA's Code of Conduct for Broadcasters

Programming for children shall not contain realistic scenes of violence which create the impression that violence is the preferred or only method to resolve conflict between individuals.

Programming for children shall not contain realistic scenes of violence which minimise or gloss over the effect of violent acts. Any realistic depictions of violence shall portray, in human terms, the consequences of that violence to its victims and its perpetrators.

Programming for children shall not contain frightening or otherwise excessive special effects not required by the story line.

USA

The Society of Professional Journalists

About 8,000 members

Largest professional organization for journalists

“Code of Ethics”

Widely accepted by industry and academe

Basis for many other media-specific codes

USA

The Society of Professional Journalists, SPJ

Code of Ethics

4 Provisions

Seek the truth and report it

Minimize harm

Act independently

Be accountable

USA

The Society of Professional Journalists

Code of Ethics

Seek the truth and report it

Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.

Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.

USA

The Society of Professional Journalists

Code of Ethics

Minimize harm

Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage.

Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects

Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief

Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.

USA

Radio Television Digital News Association: RTDNA

Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

Guidelines for Avoiding Conflicts of Interest

Guidelines for Breaking News Events

Guidelines for Amber Alerts

Social Media and Blogging Guidelines

Who decides on journalism standards in Belize?

Individual journalists

The boss

The owner

The audience