UNICEF, CRIB Charge Journalists To Adopt Harmless Perspectives In Child Rights’ Reporting

By Bassey Nkponam 
PORT HARCOURT 
Nigerian journalists have been charged to uphold highest ethical standards when reporting issues concerning the rights of children by ensuring that their reports do not harm or exploit children.
   United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), country representative, Wafaa Saeed, gave the charge, recently, while presenting a keynote address during a two-day UNICEF regional media training on Ethical Journalism and Child  Rights Reporting organised in partnership with Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Abuja, at Dome Hall, Golden Tulip Port Harcourt Hotel, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Saeed, who was represented by the Port Harcourt chief field officer, UNICEF, Dr Anselem Otobo Audu, stressed the need for journalists to adopt diverse perspectives in child rights’ reporting by ensuring that rather than their reports harming or exploiting children, their voices and experiences should be reflected in their reportage.
  The country representative, who acknowledged the critical role played by journalists in shaping public perception and influencing the well-being of children in Nigeria, urged them to report with empathy and accuracy as well as balance their reports with stories alongside sensitivity and fact-based information, while also finding multiple perspectives to give their audience a complete picture. 
“As journalists, you have a critical role in shaping the narrative on children’s issues. I urge you to prioritise children’s best interests. Ensure that your reporting does not harm or exploit children.
  “The temptation to sectionalise, to take shortcuts, or to bow to influence is real, but it is precisely because of these challenges that your ethical commitment to reporting, especially for children, matters most, not less.
“The media has the power to amplify the voices of children, highlight their struggles, and bring attention to issues that affect their well-being. However, with this power comes a major and great responsibility. The way we report on children and the stories can have a lasting impact on their lives”, he stated.
Saeed noted that ethical reporting builds trust, heals division and protects the vulnerable, especially children and women, saying in a nation or society with diverse ethnicity, religious perspectives, the media is the glue that can hold people together or the wedge that can divide them apart. 
“Ethical journalism characterised by accuracy, fairness and balance is the antidote to misinformation and hate speech. When you verify a fact before publishing, when you present multiple sides of the story, you are not just being professional, you are building a foundation of trust with your audience. Where insecurity and tension exist, responsible reportage can cool tempers, promote dialogue, and foster peace. At the same time, irresponsible reporting can inflame passions with devastating consequences.
“Children are not just adults, they are vulnerable.Their minds are impassionable and their futures are shaped by how we represent them. Ethical reporting means protecting their identity. It means never publishing a child’s name or image in a way that would stigmatise them, expose them to retaliation, or re-traumatise them, especially children affected by violence, conflict, or abuse.
“It means giving them a voice, not speaking for them. It involves interviewing children with dignity and consent, allowing them to share their experience in a safe and respectful manner. It means prioritizing their best interests.
“Though a sensational heading about a child might draw patronage, an ethical story protects the child’s right to a future free from shame and harm, as they are not just reporters but guardians of their dignity,” he said. 
He frowned at situations where identity of a survivor is exposed through an unethical report, noting that in such cases, the survivor becomes traumatised and terrified, suffer permanent stigmatisation within the community, and also become a target of gossip and shame.
According to him, the ethical approach is to report the fact without resorting to graphic details that serve no public interest, but only cause harm to the children.
Saeed who was also against the case of exploitative interview thrown by a journalist on microphone in the face of a survivor of a terrible event, opined that interviews should only be conducted if necessary with the consent of a trained psychologist present in a safe and private environment and with no pressure, as exploitative interview forces the child to relive the horror immediately without any psychological support or consent.
He said the training, borne out of the importance UNICEF attaches to ethical reporting on children, was to build capacity, provide training and foster a culture of ethical reporting that prioritises children’s well-being.  
In his welcome remarks, the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam, said the session was aimed at bringing together journalists, media practitioners, and advocates who play a vital role in shaping public understanding, influencing attitudes, and protecting the most vulnerable members of the society – the children.
Nnam, who was represented by the assistant director and head, Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB), Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Abuja, Mr Temitoye Falayi, acknowledged the power of the media to inform, inspire and hold institutions accountable, saying the responsibility becomes greater when it comes to stories involving children, as every image, word, and frame published can have lasting consequences on a child’s life, safety, and future.
He said the training was designed to help participants reflect on their ethical obligations as journalists, explore best practices for reporting on children’s issues, and strengthen their understanding of child rights as enshrined in national laws and international conventions, adding that through open discussion, case studies, and shared experiences, CRIB aimed to build a media culture that protects children’s identities, amplifies their voices responsibly, and upholds the highest ethical standards.
The permanent secretary stressed the need for participants’ collective reaffirmation of their commitment to a media landscape that not only informs but also protects and empowers.
Nnam appreciated the bureau’s major partner, UNICEF, for sponsoring the training, and the role they have played over time regarding the children, especially Nigerian children, and solicited more partnership based on what they do.
The 2-day media dialogue, which had participants drawn from the South East, South South, and North Central part of the country was aimed at providing participants the opportunity to understand the legal and ethical frameworks governing the reporting of children in Nigeria, including the Child Rights Act and international convention, and to identify and mitigate risk associated with reporting on children, ensuring their safety, privacy and dignity were protected, among other objectives.
Papers were presented on diverse topics anchored on ethical reporting of children, including “Drafting Newsroom Guidelines”, and “Rewriting harmful headlines into ethical alternatives”, both by the head, Department of Film and Multimedia Studies, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Uyo, Professor Charles Obot.