Media training to strengthen reporting on child rights issues
Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), in partnership with UNICEF South Africa, launch journalists training course to promote and support ethical, engaging and quality reporting on children’s issues.
JOHANNESBURG/PRETORIA, 11 October 2022 – Journalists from across a range of media agencies have gathered for the latest journey in a series of interactive seminars to deepen their reporting skills and coverage on child rights issues.
The ‘Reporting on Children in the Media Course’ runs until mid-November providing a series of seminars for journalists to engage on and learn about critical issues that impact child rights reporting. This is the second year that UNICEF South Africa has supported MMA on the Wits University accredited course.
“The course really equipped and empowered me as a journalist,” said Nomvelo Masango, a 2021 participant and journalist writing for Arena Holdings publications. “It gave me knowledge and skills which I believe one does not necessarily always receive in media school as part of journalism qualification. I enjoyed the fact that it helped me see issues from a different point of view,” added Masango.
The course explores how children are represented in the media and journalists will develop new skills to demonstrate how children’s rights can be respected in the media, whilst ensuring journalism of the highest quality. Journalists will be challenged to question the common representation of children and their issues, as well as open their outlook to new possibilities for alternative representations. Mentorships and hands on practice in working with children will ensure that participants will be able to quickly put their new skills into practice.
“We are very pleased to support journalists across South Africa by helping improve their reporting on children’s issues, which can often be challenging and sensitive,” said Muriel Mafico, UNICEF South Africa Deputy Representative. “The media bring an important focus to issues affecting children that can all too often be forgotten in public discourse,” added Mafico.
The partnership between Media Monitoring Africa and UNICEF South Africa also includes the Isu Elihle Journalism Awards, support to the Web Rangers programme that promotes positive online experiences among youth and a research project to look in-depth on how children in South Africa consume media online.
“The reporting on children course will equip journalists to cover children’s issues in an ethical manner and with their best interests at heart,” said William Bird, Director at Media Monitoring Africa. “Participants will engage with experts on child rights issues, and we hope to change the lives of those who take the course,” added Bird.
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About MMA
Media Monitoring Africa‘s vision is a responsible, quality media that enables an engaged and informed citizenry in Africa and across the world. MMA aims to promote the development of a free, fair, ethical and critical media culture in South Africa and the rest of the continent. To achieve MMA’s vision, the three key areas that MMA seeks to address through a human rights-based approach are: media ethics, media quality and media freedom. For more information about MMA and its work for children visit www.mediamonitoringafrica.org
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About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
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