guidelines for the treatment of children and young people in the media …€¦ · 17-09-2018 ·...

1–Draftforconsultation:17September2018

Guidelinesforthetreatmentofchildrenandyoung people in the media: a discussionpaperbyNAPCAN

Part1:Howchildrenarerepresentedgenerallyinthemedia........................3Part2:Therightsofindividualsinthemedia.........................................7Part3:Howchildabuseandneglectiscoveredinthemedia.......................11ThisdocumenthasbeenpreparedbyNAPCAN togeneratediscussionon this important topic.We invitecommentonthisdocument,withtheaimoffurtherdevelopingtheseguidelinesasanongoingresourceforwidespreaduse.Toprovidecomment,ordiscuss,please:Fillinourfeebacksurvey:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/[email protected]:[email protected]:0280733300


Guidelines for the treatment of children and young people inthemedia:adiscussionpaperbyNAPCAN

Asthepeaknationalorganisationforthepreventionofchildabuseandneglect,NAPCANhasaninterest in how themedia portrays children. Our coremessage is that ‘Protecting children iseveryone'sbusiness'andthisincludesastrong-butsometimesoverlooked-roleforthemedia.

Thisisnotmerelyacaseofencouragingthemediatousethecorrectwordsorterminology;morebroadly,thewaychildrenandyoungpeoplearerepresentedinthemediamirrorstheirstatusandtreatmentinthegeneralcommunity.

Overall,NAPCANadvocatesforthemediato:● takeabalancedandsympatheticviewofchildrenandyoungpeople● includethevoicesofchildrenwhenpresentingonissuesinwhichchildrenhaveaninterest● considerachild’sbestinterestinstoriesfeaturingchildren-askyourself‘whatifthiswasmychild?’● reportonchildabuseandneglectinamannerthatishelpfulratherthanharmful,usingappropriate

terminology.

NotethatthistopicisalsoinformedbytheUnitedNationalConventionontheRightsoftheChild,whichcontainsseveralrelatedarticlesincluding:

● Article12:Childrenhave the right tosaywhat they thinkshouldhappenwhenadultsaremakingdecisionsthataffectthemandtohavetheiropinionstakenintoaccount.

● Article 16: Children have the right to privacy. The law should protect them from attacks againsttheirwayoflife,theirgoodname,theirfamilyandtheirhome.

● Article 17: Children have the right to reliable information from the media. Mass media such astelevision, radio and newspapers should provide information that children can understand andshouldnotpromotematerialsthatcouldharmchildren.


Part1: How children and young people are representedgenerallyinthemedia

Thewaythatchildrenandyoungpeoplearerepresentedgenerallyinthemediatendstoreflectthe way that they are treated as members of the community. The respectful and accurateportrayalofchildrenandyoungpeoplecanplayarole inhelpingtorecognisetheirrightsandtheirvalue.Ifchildrenandyoungpeoplehaveahighstatusinsociety,thenwearemorelikelytolistentotheirneedsanddowhatneedstobedonetoprotectandnurturethem.

TheUKNationalCommissionofInquiryintothePreventionofChildAbuse(1996:77)recommendedthatthemedia"takeamorebalancedandsympatheticviewofchildren".

Inlinewithabelief intheimportanceof"listeningtochildren"theCommissionfeltthatthemediashouldtaketheviewsofchildrenintoaccountwhenpresentingonanissueinwhichchildrenhavesomeinterest.

TheCommissionrecommendedthatthemediashouldhaveanobligationtoconsiderachild'sbestinterestandthatthefailuretodosowouldconstitutegroundsforacomplainttoarelevantauthority.Recognisingthepowerofthemedia

Themediahas a responsibility inhelping to create a societywhere thewellbeingof children and youngpeopleiscentral.Thepowerofthepressincludes:

● Prioritisingwhatisuppermostinthemindsofthepublic.● Puttingissuesonthepoliticalagenda.● Definingwhatis‘normal’andwhatis‘deviant’insociety.● Keepingthepublicinformedabouttheissuesofyoungpeople.● Definingthevalueofyoungpeopleasfullhumanswithrights.

Biasandstereotypes

Research by the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism (ACIJ) found that young people are'discriminated against or misrepresented through strongly entrenched media practices which remainuncontested'.KeyfindingsoftheACIJstudyinclude:

● Newspapers and magazines offer limited - and often negative - information about youngpeople.


● Linguisticbiasisprevalentinreportsaboutyoungpeople;forinstance,theword'youth'oftenhasnegativeconnotations,i.e.'youthgangs.'

● Topicalbiasisprevalent;thecriminalactivityofyoungpeopleaccountsforasignificantproportionofmediacoverage.

● Thematicbiasisprevalent;theproblemsofyoungpeopleareemphasised.● Thevoiceofyoungpeopleisoftenabsent.● Theachievementsofyoungpeoplearefrequentlypatronised,trivialisedorignored.

Inparticular:● Alotofstoriesdescribechildrenasvictimsorasoutofcontrol.● Although children's vulnerability and resilience are the focus of many articles, there is far less

emphasisonchildrenasresponsiblecitizens,oronchildrenasautonomousindividualswithrights.● Positive stories tend to focusonphysical cuteness, novelty appeal, or sensational arrival into an

adult-centricworld.● Childrenaresometimesportrayedasmoreofaburden,expense,orappendagetoadultsthanas

citizensintheirownrightorastheadultsofthefuture.

Theimportanceofincludingthevoicesofchildrenandyoungpeople

Often stories about children and young people include a limited range of views, relying on regulatoryreports or public opinion.What is notablymissing inmainstreammedia are the voices of children andyoungpeoplethemselves.Thismaybedueto:

● Alackofunderstandingofhowtoaccessthesevoices.● Alackofinterestinthesevoices.● Simplynotconsideringthatthechildrenandyoungpeoplemayhaveanopinionbecauseweareso

accustomedtospeakingontheirbehalf.

Itis,therefore,necessarytoremindourselvesofthevalueinincludingyoungpeople'sviewsinthemedia.Forinstance:

● Theyaremorelikelytobeseenashumanbeingswithrightsandopinions,ratherthanmerelybeingtalkedaboutlikeobjects.

● Stereotypescanbechallenged.● Newperspectivescanbringnewinteresttoimportanttopics.

Whiletherearelimitations(largelyrelatedtoprivacy)inhowwecanincludeindividualchildrenandyoungpeopleinreporting(seePart2ofthispaper),therearesimplewaystostartchangingthisculture:

● Socialmediacanbearelativelyeasytoolforjournaliststoaccessyoungpeopleandfindoutmoreaboutwhatyoungpeoplethinkaboutparticulartopics.


● Talk toadvocacygroups,peakbodies,schoolsandgovernmentagencies foradviceabouthowtoreachchildrenandyoungpeople.

Usefulcontactsforaccessingtheviewsofyoungpeopleinclude:

• CREATEFoundation(representingchildreninoutofhomecare)–www.create.org.au• MissionAustralia(conductsanAnnualYouthSurvey)–www.missionaustralia.com.au• NAPCAN–www.napcan.org.au• National Children’s Commissioner – www.humanrights.com.au (also look up State/Territory

Children’sCommissionersandAdvocates)• SNAICC – National Voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families -

www.snaicc.org.au• YouthAdvocacyNetworks–lookupineachState/Territory

Formorediscussiononthesetopics,seetheAustralianInstituteofFamilyStudies(AIFS)paperChildAbuseandtheMedia,June2001,byChrisGoddardandBernadetteSaunders(www.aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/child-abuse-and-media).


Part2: Therightsofindividualsinthemedia

Conversationsaboutthetreatmentofchildrenandyoungpeopleinthemediamostcommonlyrefertotherightsofindividualswhoarethesubjectofreporting.

TheAustralianPressCouncilhasconductedsomeconsultationontheseissueswiththeintentiontocreateguidelines in the future (seewww.presscouncil.org.au/council-events1).Keypoints thathavebeenraisedwiththePressCouncilinclude:

● reportingon,andespeciallyusingphotosof,childrenindistressorextremis;● interviewingchildrenwithoutthepresenceorconsentofaparentorguardian(ortheequivalent);

and● special considerations around children’s privacy, for example, the appropriation of photographs

fromsocialmediasitesandreportingonchildsexualabuse.

Until specific guidelines are developed in Australia, NAPCAN recommends the UNICEF Guidelines forReportingonChildren,asincludedbelow.

Thefollowingpointsmayalsobeusefulinprotectingtheprivacyanddignityofchildrenandyoungpeople.

Protectingprivacyanddignity

● Privacyshouldbeevenmorecriticalforchildren-aNEEDaswellasaRIGHT.● Consentfromparents/carersshouldn’tnegatetheneedforprivacyforchildren.● Ajournalistwillusuallybemuchmoreawareoftheramificationsofforegoingprivacythanafamily

member who is being swept along with the media attention. The average person is much lessawareoftherisksofpublicitysuchasridicule,judgement,beingtakenadvantageof,pressure,etc.

● Sometimesfamilymembersarepartof theabuseorproblemandshould, therefore, foregotheirrighttoanswerforthechild.

● Privacyisstillarightforchildrenwhohavedied.● Justbecausesomethingisofinteresttothepublicdoesn’tmeanit’sinthepublicinterest.● Alwaysconsider‘HowwouldIfeelifthiswasmychild?'.


UNICEFguidelinesforreportingonchildren:(www.unicef.org/media/media_tools_guidelines.html)

UNICEFhasdevelopedtheseprinciplestoassistjournalistsastheyreportonissuesaffectingchildren.Theguidelinesaremeanttosupportthebestintentionsofethicalreporters:servingthepublicinterestwithoutcompromisingtherightsofchildren.

I.Principles

● Thedignityandrightsofeverychildaretoberespectedineverycircumstance.● Ininterviewingandreportingonchildren,specialattentionisneededtoensureeachchild'srightto

privacyandconfidentiality,tohavetheiropinionsheard,toparticipateindecisionsaffectingthemandtobeprotectedfromharmandretribution,includingthepotentialofharmandretribution.

● Thebest interestsofeachchildare tobeprotectedoveranyotherconsideration, includingoveradvocacyforchildren'sissuesandthepromotionofchildrights.

● Whentryingtodeterminethebest interestsofachild, thechild'srighttohavetheirviewstakenintoaccountaretobegivendueweightinaccordancewiththeirageandmaturity.

● Those closest to the child's situation and best able to assess it are to be consulted about thepolitical,socialandculturalramificationsofanyreportage.

● Donotpublishastoryoran imagewhichmightputthechild,siblingsorpeersatriskevenwhenidentitiesarechanged,obscuredornotused.

II.Guidelinesforinterviewingchildren

● Donoharmtoanychild;avoidquestions,attitudesorcommentsthatarejudgmental, insensitivetoculturalvalues,thatplaceachildindangerorexposeachildtohumiliation,orthatreactivateachild'spainandgrieffromtraumaticevents.

● Do not discriminate in choosing children to interview because of sex, race, age, religion, status,educationalbackgroundorphysicalabilities.

● Nostaging:Donotaskchildrentotellastoryortakeanactionthatisnotpartoftheirownhistory.● Ensurethatthechildorguardianknowstheyaretalkingwithareporter.Explainthepurposeofthe

interviewanditsintendeduse.● Obtainpermissionfromthechildandhisorherguardianforallinterviews,videotapingand,when

possible,fordocumentaryphotographs.Whenpossibleandappropriate,thispermissionshouldbeinwriting.Permissionmustbeobtained incircumstancesthatensurethatthechildandguardianarenotcoerced inanywayandthat theyunderstandthat theyarepartofastory thatmightbedisseminated locallyandglobally.This isusuallyonlyensured if thepermission isobtained inthechild'slanguageandifthedecisionismadeinconsultationwithanadultthechildtrusts.

● Pay attention towhere and how the child is interviewed. Limit the number of interviewers and


photographers. Try to make certain that children are comfortable and able to tell their storywithout outside pressure, including from the interviewer. In film, video and radio interviews,considerwhatthechoiceofvisualoraudiobackgroundmightimplyaboutthechildandherorhislife and story. Ensure that the childwould not be endangered or adversely affected by showingtheirhome,communityorgeneralwhereabouts.

III.Guidelinesforreportingonchildren

● Do not further stigmatize any child; avoid categorisations or descriptions that expose a child tonegative reprisals - including additional physical or psychological harm, or to lifelong abuse,discriminationorrejectionbytheirlocalcommunities.

● Alwaysprovideanaccuratecontextforthechild'sstoryorimage.● Alwayschangethenameandobscurethevisualidentityofanychildwhoisidentifiedas:

a.Avictimofsexualabuseorexploitation,b.Aperpetratorofphysicalorsexualabuse,c. HIV positive, or living with AIDS, unless the child, a parent or a guardian gives fullyinformedconsent,d.Chargedorconvictedofacrime,e.Achildcombatant,orformerchildcombatantwhoisholdingaweaponorweapons.

● In certain circumstances of risk or potential risk of harm or retribution, change the name andobscurethevisualidentityofanychildwhoisidentifiedas:

a.Aformerchildcombatantwhoisnotholdingaweaponbutmaybeatrisk,b.Anasylumseeker,arefugeeoraninternallydisplacedperson.

● In certaincases,usingachild's identity - theirnameand/or recognizable image - is in thechild'sbestinterests.However,whenthechild'sidentityisused,theymuststillbeprotectedagainstharmandsupportedthroughanystigmatizationorreprisals.Someexamplesofthesespecialcasesare:

a. When a child initiates contact with the reporter, wanting to exercise their right tofreedomofexpressionandtheirrighttohavetheiropinionheard.b.When a child is part of a sustained programmeof activism or socialmobilization andwantstobesoidentified.c. When a child is engaged in a psychosocial programme and claiming their name andidentityispartoftheirhealthydevelopment.

● Confirmtheaccuracyofwhatthechildhastosay,eitherwithotherchildrenoranadult,preferablywithboth.

● Whenindoubtaboutwhetherachildisatrisk,reportonthegeneralsituationforchildrenratherthanonanindividualchild,nomatterhownewsworthythestory.


Part3: How child abuse and neglect is covered in themedia

TheguidelinesinthissectionhavebeendevelopedasanadaptationofOurWatch’s‘ReportingonChildSexualAbuseGuidelines’issuedinSeptember2014andavailableatourwatch.org.au.

Child abuseandneglect is aproblem for thewhole community. Thereareways you can reporton childabuseandneglectthatwillhelplisteners,readers,andviewerstoseeitasanissuethataffectseveryoneinsomeway.Youcanreportonthisissueinawaythatinforms,educatesandcontributesusefullytopublicdialogue,andencourageseveryonetoshareresponsibility.

Thevictimofintra-familialabusefacesparticularproblems.Themostobviousisthatthecrimecommittedbyparentsorcaregiversdoesnotnecessarilyendtherelationshipbetweenperpetratorandvictim.Theserelationshipsmakethemediacoverageofsuchissuesparticularlysensitive.

Children,theevidencesuggests,oftenblamethemselvesfortheirvictimisation.Thisisanotherreasonformediasensitivitytotheirneeds.

Belowaresomesuggestionsfordealingwithchildabusemoresensitivelyinthemedia.

Nameit

When reportingonharm toa child, it is important to name it as ‘child abuse’. This is important for tworeasons:

● Firstly, if your audience consistently comes across this terminology, they will get a betterunderstandingoftheextentoftheproblem.

● Secondly,usingthetermabuseensuresthattheeventisn'tminimisedortrivialised.

Forexample:

● whenachildisbeaten,thisischildabuseratherthan‘severediscipline’● adultsexualcontactwithachildisneverconsensualandthereforeshouldalwaysbereferredtoas

abuseorrape.Usingtermslike‘relationship’,‘affair’or‘sex’todescribeanincidentofsexualabuseagainstachildminimisesandtrivialiseswhatisaverytraumaticcrime

● claimingthattheaccusedwas‘inlove’or‘infatuated’withthevictimisanotherwaythatthecrimeissoftenedorexcused.


Safetycomesfirst

When reporting on child abuse and neglect, it is especially important that you do everything you can toensurethatyourreportingdoesnotcompromisethesurvivor'ssafety.Omittingdetailsabouttheabusemaybenecessarytoprotectthesurvivorortheirfamily'sanonymity.

Thisalsomeans considering theemotional safetyof survivorsyoumay interview.Beingasked to recountexperiencesofabusemayre-traumatisesurvivors.Wherepossible,allowthemtosee,andcontributeto,awrittenversionoftheiraccount.

Childabuseisneveracceptable

Theadultperpetratorisalwayssolelyresponsibleforanyincidentofchildabuse.

Neveruselanguageorcontextualisethestoryinawaythatsuggeststhatthesurvivoroftheabusewasinanywaytoblameforwhathappenedtohimorher.

Childrenarevulnerable,impressionable,andaredependentonadultstoprotectandcareforthem–therearenocircumstancesunderwhichachildshouldbemadetoappearresponsibleforanyaspectoftheabusetheyexperienced.

Childabuseisseriousandhighlytraumatic

Itisneverappropriatetoreportonchildabuseinawaythatsensationalises,trivialises,ormakeslightofit.

Taketheemphasisawayfrom‘strangerdanger’

Whileincidentsofchildabuseperpetratedbystrangerstendtodominatetheheadlines,mostabuseisbyanadultwhoisknowntothechild–andit'scrucialtounderscorereportingwiththatfact.

Ifitislegaltodoso,wherethereisarelationshipbetweenthesurvivorandtheperpetrator,acknowledgethat fact. This could be as simple as saying that the abuserwas known to the child,without necessarilyidentifyingthem.

Respectforthechild

Useyourbestsensitivityandgoodjudgementwhenreportingsurvivors’stories,especiallywhentheyareachild.


Makesureyoudoallyoucantoreportonchildabuseinawaythatupholdsthesurvivor'srighttodignity,rememberingthatthereislikelytraumaassociatedwiththeabuseevenifithappenedmanyyearsago.

Provideasmuchtimeaspossibleforsurvivorstotell theirstory intheirowntime. Ifpossible, itwouldbebestpracticetoprovideanopportunityforsurvivorsand/ortheir(non-offending)familymemberstolookatwhatyou'rereportingbeforeitispublishedorairedpublicly.Wherepossible,follow-upafteraninterviewtoseeiftheyareokay.

Knowthelaw

Thereare lawsaboutwhat informationyoucanandcannotdivulgewhenyou're reportingonasituationthatmayinvolvechildabuseorprotectionorders.

Befair

Child abuse is a highly emotive issue. Be sure to reportwhat you can sensitively and appropriately, in abalanced way, always keeping in mind that children are exceptionally vulnerable members of ourcommunity.

Avoidinggeneralisations,stereotypes,andstigma

Child abuse is a highly traumatic experience,with variedandprofound impacts. Its effects can staywithsomeonefora lifetime(although it’s importanttoemphasisethatsurvivorsofchildsexualabusedohavetheabilitytoovercometheeffectsoftheabuse,especiallywiththerightsupport).

Many children who have suffered from abuse or neglect, have the added challenge of facing stigmaassociatedwiththeirexperience.

While there isevidence thatabusecanhave long-lastingnegative impacts for children, themedia shouldnotexacerbatethebeliefthechildrenwhohaveexperiencedabuseorhavelivedinout-of-homecare,willnotachieveinlife.

Whenreportingonchildren,considerthattheyaremorethanjusttheirexperienceofabuse.Itcanhelptomentionotheraspectsof thechild’s lifeorexperience to remindreaders thatweare talkingabouta realhumanbeing.

CREATE’s#snapthestigmacampaignisausefulexampleofchallengingpreconceivedideasaboutchildrenincare(seewww.create.org.au/resources/snap-that-stigma).


Blameanddemonisation

Whenitcomestochildabuse,thereisatendencytofocusonblame.However,childabuseandneglectisacomplexissueinvolvingarangeofriskandprotectivefactors,ratherthansimple‘causes’or‘reasons’.

Storiesinvolvingchildsafetydepartmentscangetlostindemonisingchildsafetyofficers-orpoliticalblame-ratherthanfocusingontheunderlyingriskfactors,theactualevents,orwaystopreventabuse.

Themediahasthepowertohelpimprovethesafetyofchildrenratherthansensationaliseabuse.Thereareopportunities toaddmessagesaboutpreventionandhowprotecting children is everyone'sbusiness, andthatweallhavearoletoplay.Seewww.napcan.org.auforexamplesofconstructivepreventionmessaging.

Calloncommunityexpertsforcomment

Don’tjustrelyonthepoliceorthejudiciaryforcommentwhenreportingonchildabuse.Communityexpertsontheissuewillbeabletohelpputyourstoryincontext.Examplesinclude:

• Bravehearts(childsexualabuse)–www.bravehearts.org.au• CREATEFoundation(childreninoutofhomecare)–www.create.org.au• NAPCAN(childabuseandneglect)–www.napcan.org.au• NationalChildren’sCommissioner(children’srights)–www.humanrights.com.au• OurWatch(domesticviolence)–www.ourwatch.org.au• SNAICC(AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderchildrenandfamilies)-www.snaicc.org.au

Listingsupportservices

Itisessentialtoincludeinformationaboutavailablesupportoptionsforpeoplewhohaveexperiencedchildabuse,aswellas forpeoplewhosuspect thatachild isbeingabused.Youshouldalways includecontactdetailsforlocalsupportservices.Usefulcontactnumbersmayinclude:

• Foremergecy:000• Lifeline131114• KidsHelpline1800551800• 1800RESPECTon1800737732• NationalDomesticViolenceHelpline1800200526• MenslineAustralia1300789978• AboriginalFamilyDomesticViolenceHotline1800019123• ParentlineQld&NT


Attachment1:NAPCANPLAYYOURPARTTIPSHEET

NAPCANhascreatedarangeofPlayYourPartTipSheetsforallmembersofthecommunityincludingthemedia. This provides a summary of the key ideas covered in this document and is a useful resource foranyoneworkingwithchildren.Toseeourfullrangeoftipsheets,visitwww.napcan.org.au.

WHATROLECANMEDIAPLAY?

THEMEDIACANPLAYTHEIRPARTTOPROTECTANDCAREFORCHILDRENANDYOUNGPEOPLE INTHEIRCOMMUNITYBYCHALLENGINGNEGATIVESTEREOTYPESANDREPORTINGONCHILDABUSEPREVENTIONINITIATIVES.

• Communicateandworkwithchildabusepreventionorganisationstodevelopeffectiveresponsestoinstancesofharmfulbehaviourtowardschildrenandyoungpeople.

• Avoidnegativeorunfairstereotypesofcommunitiesandculturalgroups.• Conveychildprotectionandchildabusepreventionasbeingeveryone’sbusiness.• Promoteabalancedperspectiveofyoungpeople.Sharestoriesofyoungpeoplewhoareengaged

positivelyintheirfamilies,schoolsandcommunities.• Recogniseandseekoutthevoiceofyoungpeopleinotherstories,notjustthosethatinvolveabuse

orneglect.Article12oftheUNConventionontheRightsoftheChildstatesthat:Childrenhavetheright toexpress theiropinions freely,andhave theiropinions taken intoaccount inmatters thataffectthem.

• Makethefederal,stateandlocalgovernmentsaccountableforupholdingChildAbuseandNeglectstandardsintermsofAustralianlegislationandpolicy.

• Feature interviews with leading child abuse prevention experts when possible, so that theAustraliancommunityhasamoreinformedpublicdebateonprevention.

• Thedigitalmediaindustrycanpartnerwithchildabusepreventionexpertstohelpkeepallchildrenand young people smart and safe online and offline. Working together, messages about therespectful use of technology in relationships and providing young people and children withknowledgeandskills tomanage theirdigitalusecanplayapart inkeeping themsafeonlineandoffline.

• Providedetailsofsupportserviceswhenpossibletoencouragehelpseekingbehaviours.Increasingfamilies’accesstoservicesandeventscandecreasetheirisolationandriskofchildabuse.

• Be aware of the impact of sexualised images of young people, remembering that children andyoungpeoplearealsoexposedtothemedia.

• Beapositiverolemodel.Childrenandyoungpeoplelearnfromthesourcesofinformationtheyareexposedto,somakeyourinfluencepositive!

guidelines for the treatment of children and young people in the media …€¦ · 17-09-2018 ·...

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